CHOGM strong stand on Climate Change
Updated
The most important declaration coming out of the Heads of Commonwealth Meeting in Trinidad and Tobago at the weekend was on climate change. According to the Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, it was a strong declaration that unites a wide range of perspectives on climate change. Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare says the very existence of small island states is at stake - as they are already going under water. Sir Michael says they therefore see the strong stand on climate change taken at the weekend as a success.
Presenter: Bruce Hill
Speakers: Australia's, Kevin Rudd; Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper; PNG's Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare
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SOMARE: Success in the sense that there are nations of the world who may not be serious about what is happening to rest of us. The small island states in Papua New Guinea is a good example, Kiribatis, Tuvalu, all these islands are coming under the water, which give us the impression there is something wrong within the world of tension and this conference made it possible for our voice to be heard.
HILL: Canada's Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, says the strong statement on climate change is a hopeful step towards the Copenhagen climate change summit.
HARPER: Climate change, which I think was the most important declaration coming out of this meeting. We have a strong declaration that unites a wide range of perspectives in this particular organisation. The countries here represent 30 per cent of the world's population, includes some developed countries, mainly developing countries. So I think the fact that we had a strong statement on this issue is an important and hopeful step as we approach the conference in Copenhagen.
HILL: And Australia's Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, says the time for delay on climate change action is over.
RUDD: Our view is very simple. The time for delay on climate change action has well and truly passed. In Australia, we've had more than ten years of delay on climate change action and after ten years of delay on climate change action, continued delay is nothing less than climate change denial.
