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Climate tops CHOGM agenda

— Photo: Manvender Vashist

GENERATION SHIFT: Britain’s Queen Elizabeth at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala on Friday. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Commonwealth Secretary-General Don Mckinnon (to Queen’s left) are also seen.

KAMPALA: Queen Elizabeth II of Britain on Friday called on 53 Commonwealth member nations to pay more attention to the youth.

Young people, who make up nearly half of Commonwealth population, should be given more attention, said the Queen while officially opening the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kampala, Uganda, on Friday.

“The conclusion drawn from the youth forum earlier this week shows us their optimism and enthusiasm. This is energy which should be adapted more fully,” said the Queen, who arrived here on Wednesday on a three-day state visit.

“Young people can, and should, take their part in many global challenges, which cannot be resolved by the old generation alone,” she said.

At the opening ceremony, Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Donald Mckinnon, and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni also delivered speeches.

Mr. Mckinnon said young people, and the issue of climate change should be addressed at the summit.

“Without them [young people] at the core of our planning, our budgeting and our doing, our Commonwealth has no future,” said Mr. Mckinnon.

Lawrence Gonzi, outgoing Commonwealth Chairman and Maltese Prime Minister said Commonwealth heads of state should send a strong message of support to next month’s international summit on climate change in Bali.

“The challenge of climate change not only requires a united front but an unprecedented level of cooperation and firm action,” said Mr. Gonzi at the opening ceremony. Combating climate change is high on the Commonwealth agenda at the biennial summit, having not even been a footnote to the final statement at the last meeting on Malta in 2005.

Officials said in the run-up to the summit that all members states are now agreed there is an “urgent” need to tackle the issue. — Agencies

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