Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Commonwealth summit to stoke climate debate
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Commonwealth summit to stoke climate debate
AFP - Saturday, November 28
Send
IM Story
Print
PORT OF SPAIN (AFP) - – Heads of Commonwealth nations and the United Nations on Friday gathered for an unprecedented summit to forge a joint stand on global warming 10 days ahead of Copenhagen talks.
Opening the meeting, Commonwealth secretary general Kamalesh Sharma warned of the "looming existential catastrophe of climate change" and said the organization had to restate its "shared responsibilities towards the preservation of our planet."
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, the titular head of the 53-nation Commonwealth composed mainly of former British colonies, was also attending the start of the three-day summit in Trinidad and Tobago.
In a rare move, non-members UN chief Ban Ki-moon, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen were to address the leaders behind closed doors later on Friday seeking to forge a common stand on tackling climate change.
The three leaders were invited to Trinidad by Prime Minister Patrick Manning who said there had been "some concern about the way negotiations were going ahead of Copenhagen next month."
"A political statement out of (the Commonwealth) is not a statement that one can take lightly," Manning told journalists Thursday.
"It comes with the weight of so many countries and so many people, that therefore we feel it can have some effect on influencing the way that the discussions go in Denmark."
Climate change and rising sea levels, blamed on global warming caused by greenhouse gases emitted mostly by the world's industrial powerhouses, threaten many developing nations, a number of which are Commonwealth members that have struggled to have their voices heard.
Fears that the Copenhagen conference starting December 7 would fail to reach a deal on replacing the Kyoto Protocol when it expires in 2012 were eased this week with pledges to cut emissions by Beijing and Washington.
The offers by the world's two biggest greenhouse gas emitters were widely hailed, even amid questions over how effective they would be.
The United States said it was aiming to curb emissions by 17 percent from 2005 levels by 2020.
It is less than calls by the European Union, Japan and UN scientists -- but the first concrete numbers put on the table by the world's largest economy and second biggest polluter.
US President Barack Obama will also present at Copenhagen longer-term pledges of a 30 percent reduction in emissions by 2025, 42 percent by 2030 and 83 percent by 2050, officials said.
China said that by 2020 it would cut the amount of carbon dioxide emitted per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) by 40 to 45 percent compared to 2005 levels.
That is essentially a pledge of greater energy efficiency: with electricity demand soaring, China relies on carbon-belching coal to generate about 70 percent of its energy needs.
India, which is also a Commonwealth member and home to a billion people, has yet to unveil its own emissions targets ahead of Copenhagen.
Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said China's decision to unveil a carbon emissions target had put pressure on India to follow suit.
"China has given a wake-up call to India," the minister told the Hindustan Times daily in aninterview published Friday.
The Commonwealth, which this year celebrates its 60th anniversary, is also grappling with issues such as whether to admit the former Belgian colony of Rwanda as its newest member.
The move, backed by Britain, Canada, and Australia, has triggered controversy amid concerns over Rwanda's rights record following the 1994 genocide in which 800,000 people died.
Several leaders from Gambia, Namibia and Nauru where absent from the table on Friday, as well as the military leader of Fiji which was suspended from the Commonwealth in September for refusing to schedule elections by October 2010.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
News Search
Top Stories
Victory for Putin as France signs gas pipeline deal
Big crowds hit US 'Black Friday' shops
Investors dump stocks over Dubai scare
Commonwealth summit to stoke climate debate
ING announces terms for 7.5-bln-euro rights issue
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Dubai debt fears hit world stock markets
Investors dump stocks over Dubai scare
Dubai debt move 'carefully planned': top official
Couple crashed White House state dinner
Berlusconi estranged wife eyes $65 mln a year
More Most Viewed »
Alcohol helps cut heart disease risk for men: study
Mankind using Earth's resources at alarming rate
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Saturday, 28 November 2009 Defiant Ebadi accuses Iran of lying over Nobel 'seizure'
EU unveils new economic chiefs amid tensions
Hong Kong police probe second Facebook suicide group
Big crowds hit US 'Black Friday' shops
German minister quits over Afghan strike
Investors dump stocks over Dubai scare
ING announces terms for 7.5-bln-euro rights issue
Cellphone powers back pain chip in Taiwan
Israeli minister optimistic on prisoner swap deal
| International
|
Commonwealth summit to stoke climate debate
Activision says "Call of Duty" series tops $3 billion
Iran says expects Russian missiles within 2 months
Five dead, 50 missing as Bangladesh Eid ferry sinks
| International
|
Merkel moves German family minister to labor job
| International
|
Southern separatists end Yemen highway closure
| International
|
U.S. says Sudan's 2010 elections in doubt
| International
|
Obama set to meet with Australian prime minister
Activision says Call of Duty series tops $3 billion
| Technology
|
3 Ukrainians died in Afghan helicopter crash
Japan PM asks China's defence chief for 'transparency': govt
Cambodian ex-prison chief pleads for release
White House endorses IAEA censure of Iran
SKorea's president set to meet North's Kim Jong Il
Shoplifting Charge Gives Man A Stinky Situation
Philippine mayor ordered massacre
Four Dead In Florida Thanksgiving Shooting; Manhunt Underway
U.S. Will Send Diplomats To Anti-Landmine Convention
Police: Pregnant woman killed at holiday dinner
Filipino who lost wife in massacre files candidacy
White House Lambasts New Charges Against American-Iranian Detained In Tehran
Space shuttle Atlantis, 7 astronauts back on Earth
Update: Atlantis Returns Safely After Landmark Visit To ISS
Update: Shuttle Atlantis Lands Safely In Florida
Sri Lanka's presidential poll set for Jan. 26
Military divorces edge up again in 9th year of war
Olmsted's 1895 Pa. steel town seeks green rebirth
Sri Lanka to hold presidential poll in January
Insuring young key to health care overhaul plans
Report: Accused CA camp killer planned massacre
AP NewsAlert
Canadian buyer wants multiple sports at Silverdome
EU figures show resilient China trade, lower deficit
China's Geely to own Volvo technology: report
India's Tata Motors swings to quarterly profit
S.Korean president sees 2010 GDP up around 5 pct
Tata Motors swings to $4.7m consolidated profit
Confusion surrounds Robbie Williams "proposal"
District 9 no alien to Oscar buzz
| Entertainment
|
Japanese flock to first-ever open budget debate
Top 10 movie flops of the decade
Luc Besson says the French are his harshest critics
Confusion surrounds Robbie Williams proposal
| Entertainment
|
Indie Spirit Awards hit milestone 25th year
Indie Spirit Awards hit milestone 25th year
| Entertainment
|
Top 10 movie flops of the decade
| Entertainment
|
Louvre, Versailles face closure by striking French workers
"District 9" no alien to Oscar buzz
British tabloids inspire Russia's school for scandal
Luc Besson says the French are his harshest critics
| Entertainment
|
Poland's president inks restrictive gambling law
BBC chief predicts smaller corporation after 2012
Katey Sagal: Happy as the mom on 'Sons of Anarchy'
Oprah to visit White House for Christmas special
| Entertainment
|
Abbas thanks Venezuela for supporting Palestinians
Russian train crash kills 25, nearly 100 injured
Black Friday shoppers tweet, friend and clip
Russian train crash kills 39, attack suspected
| International
|
Wall Street braces for Dubai debt fallout, jobs data
Twenty-two dead, 54 hurt in Russia train crash: reports
British Star Ricky Whittle Arrested On Suspicion Of Assault
French minister wants Europe to take on Google
Gatecrashers met Obama, Secret Service 'embarrassed'
Iran condemned by UN nuclear watchdog
Swedish FM discounts Greek EU veto on Macedonia
Space shuttle Atlantis lands back on Earth
Diplomats: Iran censured at UN nuclear meeting
Honduran favorite aims for Brazil's support
| International
|
W.Sahara activist ailing 12 days into hunger strike
Victory for Putin as France signs gas pipeline deal
Israeli minister "optimistic" on prisoner swap deal
Venezuela to upgrade Palestinian ties, offers aid
| International
|
Iran denies it confiscated Ebadi's Nobel medal
Afghan mine victims face hard, but hopeful life
| International
|
Cargo plane crashes on take-off at Shanghai airport
| International
|
Venezuela blasts Colombia as region talks defense
| International
|
Bangladesh ferry capsizes at dock; 15 dead
Body of trapped Utah spelunker won't be recovered
Black Friday shoppers tweet, friend and clip
| Technology
|
10 dead in China mine accident: state media
Cadaver hunt in Philippines massacre ends: police
French minister wants Europe to take on Google
| Technology
|
White House: State dinner crashers met Obama
World's lowest birth rate 'could hurt' Taiwan society
E.Timor should form anti-graft commission: president
Signs of life in stores as holiday shopping begins
Florida police hunt Thanksgiving family killer
3 killed as cargo plane crashes in China: media
Zimbabwe cargo plane crashes in China, killing 3
Front-runner registers for Philippine presidential election
US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 849
Australia PM plays down climate snap poll fears
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,366
AP NewsAlert
DA: Walmart peaceful year after deadly NY stampede
Dubai debt crisis roils world markets
Top 10 TV series of the decade
| Entertainment
|
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Leona Lewis hopes Echo will resound
| Entertainment
|
Top 10 TV series of the decade
Iconic Ansel Adams print going up for NYC auction
Former director of Spain's Guggenheim museum jailed
Paris evolution sale: from dinosaurs to space diapers
Al Alberts, founding member of The Four Aces, dies
US delays crackdown on Internet gambling
Explosion heard in Kabul: witnesses
US Fed chief 'concerned' by regulatory proposals
Iran 'will make own nuclear fuel' if IAEA deal fails
At least 73 dead in Congo boat accident: Red Cross
| International
|
Saudi floods death toll rises to 98
| International
|
Zambia denies shielding Rwanda genocide suspects
| International
|
At least 32 killed after Bangladesh ferry sinks
| International
|
Hardline rebels take Somali border town near Kenya
| International
|
Day two of Namibia vote, ruling party set to win
| International
|
Anti-WTO protesters in Geneva smash windows
| International
|
West aims to build Afghan forces with pay hike
| International
|
Zimbabwe cargo plane crashes in China, killing 3
Screenwriter Avary taken off jail furlough
Commonwealth talks boost hopes of climate deal
Black Friday shoppers tweet, friend and clip
| Technology
|
Bangladesh ferry toll rises to 28
Exec says Nokia must speed up transformation: report
| Technology
|
Bangladesh ferry capsizes at dock; 30 dead
Recession sends older Americans to food pantries
12 inmates escape from western Afghan prison
Slain Ore public defender was strangled
Indonesia struck by 6.2 magnitude earthquake
Bangladesh ferry capsizes at dock; 18 dead
Bomb detonates in Afghan capital, no injuries
Japan launches 5th spy satellite
iPhone's debut in S.Korea means paradigm shift: experts
Hyundai suspends passenger vehicle sales in Japan
S.Korean president orders crackdown on railway strike
Apple's iPhone arrives in tech-savvy South Korea
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights