Kampala,
   27/11/07
 
CLIMATE WARMING AMONG THE ISSUES TACLED BY THE COMMONWEALTH LEADERS

By Leo Odera Omolo

The question of the climate change was among the top agendas at the just ended meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) in the Ugandan capital city, Kampala.

The debate was sparked off by the outgoing secretary General of the 53 member states of common wealth Mr. Don McKinnon who disclosed that the organization which brings together all the former British colonies shall send a message to the forth coming Bali Conference on Global warming.

Mr. McKinnon said the message to the United Nations Climate Conference scheduled for December 3-14 in Bali, Indonesia would be that all countries must do more to address global worming.

While briefing newsmen Mr. McKinnon noted that the Kyoto Protocol targets might have been overly ambitious.

Efforts by member states would be a crucial starting point to achieve millennium Development goals, considering that the countries span all the continents.

Restoration is crucial since forests are the so-called “linge of the earth” and it is crucial that the world emitters of greenhouse gases like Australia be brought on board.

One of the biggest issues for discussion in Kampala was climate change and its impact on commonwealth members, especially small island states threatened by rising water levels.

Experts say Africa also risk being left behind in efforts to combat warming, which could have a disastrous effect on crops on the continent through drought.

“One of the biggest challenges we face is climate change “,said the outgoing commonwealth chairman Lawrence Gonzi ,the Prime Minister of Malta ,in an early address after the summit was opened in the Queen Elizabeth of England.

The results of the Australian national elections would be a pointer to whether the country will lead the way in cutting emissions.

According to Mr. McKinnon both parties led by the outgoing Prime Minister John Howard and Kevin Rudd the incoming Premier, have placed the climate agenda at the top of their tray

Australia is currently suffering its wave of drought in decades and has not seen rain for six years.

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