The President, Mr J. A. Kufuor, drummed home the devastating impact of climate change in the world at the closing session of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kampala Sunday and said the situation required a sense of urgency to address it more resolutely.
Delivering a statement on behalf of Africa at the closing ceremony, President Kufuor also asked the developed member countries of the commonwealth to assist weaker countries, particularly the small Island states, in their frantic effort survive and develop.
The President who is also the African Union (AU) Chairman said the impact of climate change manifested itself in diverse ways in many areas and asked for the adoption of the necessary strategies to assuage the trend.
Sixteen Presidents and 20 Prime Ministers, as well as 20 delegated representatives, attended the three dlay meeting, which was on the theme, "Transforming Commonwealth society to achieve political, economic and human development".
The" Commonwealth leaders issued a declaration on the second lay of their three-day event on how o tackle climate change, ahead of he United Nations Summit on the climate in Bali, Indonesia, but the statement fell short of any consensus on setting targets to cut gas emissions which are regarded as a major cause of climate change.
The Bali meeting is intended to lay the groundwork for an agreement to succeed the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012. The Kyoto Protocol set emission targets for developed countries but it exempted developing ones.
The Commonwealth leaders, however, resolved to work closely to promote policies to combat climate change in their countries and across the Commonwealth.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to the 1989 Langkswi Declaration on the Environment and conceded that climate change was a threat to the very survival of Commonwealth countries, par¬ticularly small island states.
This year, Ghana, has experienced two harsh contrasting climate situations which precipitated a near drought and abundant rainfall. The near drought left in its trail an energy crisis, while the abundant rainfall caused floods, leading to the destruc¬tion of lives and property.
President Kufuor said the three day meeting was one of the most successful CHOGMs organised, adding that the event had emphasised the strength of the association.
He said the Commonwealth Secretariat had lived up to the high standards of efficiency and commitment and commended the outgoing Secretary-General, Mr Don McKinnon, for steering the association closer to the realisation of its ideals.
Source: Daily Graphic
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
Latest Stories
-
‘When Abrantie BoG came, the cedi is now trading at GHȼ16 to a dollar’ – Mahama teases Bawumia
4 mins -
Al Fayed’s son ‘horrified’ by sexual abuse allegations
9 mins -
Agyapa Mercer unveils Ghana’s first Creative Arts Hall of Fame in Sekondi
10 mins -
Bright Simons: Bank of Ghana sweats to impress the IMF about cedi’s woes
17 mins -
Mahama accuses Sanitation Ministry of squandering $43m World Bank grant, $150m GARID funds
21 mins -
GPL 2024/25: Samartex return from Africa with sight on Vision FC
1 hour -
Ashimeru praises Vincent Kompany’s early success at Bayern Munich
1 hour -
Jintao Sanitary Ware Ghana Limited begins operations in Takoradi
1 hour -
Zamalek beat Al Ahly on penlaties to win 2024 CAF Super Cup
1 hour -
Elisha Owusu opens Ligue 1 scoring account as Auxerre thump Brest
2 hours -
We need quality products locally; importing to run top hotels increases cost – Labadi Beach Hotel MD
10 hours -
2024/25 GPL: Basake Holy Stars face tough test against Medeama at CAM Park
10 hours -
Kwahu-Nkwatia development chief advocates for peaceful elections
10 hours -
We must declare state of emergency over galamsey, halt all mining – VLK Djokoto
11 hours -
JL Plantations, WES Trade sign MoU to promote commercial agriculture in Ghana
11 hours