Utilising T&T's motto, Prime Minister Patrick Manning has urged world leaders in Copenhagen to aspire to achieve a meaningful agreement on lingering contentious climate change issues. "A meaningful agreement at Copenhagen requires a consideration of national issues in the context of how what we do as nations impact our neighbours � ladies and gentlemen, let brotherly love prevail." Manning declared at one point of his address. Manning was addressing leaders at the high-level wrap-up segments of the historic United Nations Copenhagen Climate Change conference.
He said the conference's outcome would have significant impact now and in the future on every citizen of the world. Manning added: "The significance of this meeting weighs heavily on us as leaders to take control of the outcome to this meeting. "In my country, our motto is Together We Aspire Together We Achieve...I commend these words to the world, and specifically to leaders here gathered. "Let us make a greater effort to achieve that to which we all aspire. We did it in Port-of-Spain two weeks ago. We will do it here in Copenhagen."
Manning noted that two weeks ago the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in T&T produced a climate change consensus in three days although many thought this would not happen. "Then, as now, I believe that we have it in us to agree on what is required within the time allotted to us as heads," he said. While there were many proposals on the various issues � mitigation measures, fast-track financing � Manning said a breakdown threatened to derail agreement on reducing emissions at levels that could halt the slide toward climate crisis. Manning said: "As leaders we have the capability to leave here with an agreement. We did it in Port-of-Spain, we can do it in Copenhagen."
