Climate talk on the boil as Sarkozy gatecrashes Chogm

Reuters

CARIBBEAN WELCOME: Prime Minister John Key arrives at the airport in Port of Spain for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting hosted by Trinidad and Tobago.

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Pressure is mounting on Commonwealth leaders to make an international deal on climate change after French President Nicolas Sarkozy was added to the list of international heavyweights gatecrashing their summit.

Mr Sarkozy's presence at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting gives it an unprecedented level of international interest and indicates concern that a hard and fast deal on cutting greenhouse gases will not be reached at a crunch United Nations summit in Copenhagen next month.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, head of the United Nations climate talks Ivo de Boer and Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen are also attending the Chogm in Trinidad and Tobago.

It is not clear who invited Mr Sarkozy, but his decision to attend has upped the pressure on Commonwealth leaders to go to Copenhagen and for a deal on emissions cuts and penalties to be reached there.

Prime Minister John Key has said he will go to Copenhagen only if there is an agreement on the table, which he believes is unlikely before next year.

He said this week he had not been swayed to change his mind despite United States President Barack Obama saying he would drop in at the start of the Copenhagen talks.

Mr Key said the presence of Mr Sarkozy with the climate change "heavyweights" at Chogm was an attempt to build consensus on the need for a deal on emissions levels soon.

"Some of the heavy-hitters are in town to put the case when it comes to climate change. They're using this as a staging post, if you like, going into Copenhagen."

He said he did not think Chogm would be hijacked by climate change, as there were other pressing issues to deal with.

These included a bid by Malaysia to get Fiji reinstated to the Commonwealth Games. Fiji was suspended from the Commonwealth this year after coup leader Frank Bainimarama refused to schedule elections.

Mr Key said Malaysia's bid was unlikely to get much traction.

"New Zealand's opposed to Fiji being allowed re-entry into the Commonwealth Games.

"It's inconsistent with the previous stance that the Commonwealth has taken and it would send completely the wrong message to the administration."