Copenhagen fund gets CHOGM backing

Commonwealth leaders have today backed the British-led proposal to establish a US$10 billion fund to support developing countries adapt to low-carbon emissions policies.

In a special statement on climate change at the Commonwealth summit in Trinidad, they said they backed what they have termed the Copenhagen Launch Fund and wanted 10 per cent of it set aside for small island states.

The statement said they support Danish Prime Minister Lars Rasmussen's efforts to deliver "a comprehensive, substantial and operationally binding agreement in Copenhagen leading towards a full legally binding outcome no later than 2010."

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd led the group that produced the statement.

Mr Rasmussen and UN secretary General Ban Ki-Moon attended a press conference in Port of Spain this morning with Mr Rudd, Trinidad Prime Minister Patrick Manning, and Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma to announce their agreement.

Mr Sharma and Mr Rudd rejected any suggestions that Canada had been dragging its feet on getting an agreement.

Mr Rudd said the Commonwealth spoke with "a single voice" on the issue. Mr Rasmussen said he had had 89 acceptances so far of leaders to attend the climate change talks in Copenhagen next month, seeking to negotiate an agreement to replace the Kyoto protocol when it expires in 2012.

Mr Manning then declared that Mr Rasmussen could make it 90 - he too would be attending.

Prime Minister John Key met Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today and is scheduled to meet Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake tonight.