French President Francois Hollande is to make an extraordinary address to the leaders here Friday in what appears to be the first appearance by a French head of state at the biennial Commonwealth meeting – a gathering of countries formerly under British rule.
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Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, has called on the heads of governments of 53-nations at the Commonwealth Summit in Malta to take immediate actions on climate change.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has encouraged other Commonwealth leaders to send a powerful signal to other nations that strong climate change action is needed.
Instead, the federal government has committed to meeting the provinces and territories within 90 days of the summit to begin developing a national climate change strategy.
The pledge is part of Canada’s commitments under the 2009 Copenhagen Accord under which developed countries promised annual payments of $100 billion to finance developing countries climate policies until 2020, when the future Paris agreement goes into effect. “It is therefore up to human beings to face up to their responsibilities”.
He has also generated much enthusiasm by making the rare commitment to allow each and every provincial premier to accompany him to Paris.
However, climate-change plans presented by more than 150 countries leading up to the Paris conference would still see the average global temperature increase 2.7 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by 2100.
He said the money will “support developing countries’ transition to low-carbon economies and more effectively tackle climate change”.
Transparency International announced Friday it had signed an agreement with the Commonwealth which included an eight-step programme to tackle corruption. “These are all really significant actions and I think Alberta will be applauded for them”, said Smith, who will also attend the Paris conference.
Mr Trudeau said he has been “thrown into the deep end of global summits” and it is nice to have a friend in Mr Turnbull to turn to for guidance and insight.
The Queen praised the advancements of the Commonwealth during her reign and even made a light-hearted joke to the prime minister of Canada after his toast, in what is more than likely to be her last CHOGM.
The two leaders made the promise at a meeting held on the sidelines of the 53rd meeting of Commonwealth leaders in Malta.
In recent years, the Queen has avoided long-distance travel.
PRIME Minister Justin Trudeau, was received on Wednesday by the Queen at Buckingham Palace.
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“In 1947, you famously vowed that your whole life would be devoted to the service of the Commonwealth”.
