PORT OF SPAIN Less than 20 days remain before the United Nations climate talks in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Consequently, world leaders are racing against time to make sure that they approach the talks with tangible solutions to the effect of global climate change as well as help poor countries mitigate against its impact.

As if to take a cue from Botswana, France and Britain have unveiled a plan of US$10 billion per annum for the next three years to help poor countries deal with the effects of global climate change.

Botswanas view, according to foreign affairs and international cooperation minister, Mr Phandu Skelemani, is that developed countries must help their poor counterparts in Africa with funds to address climate issues and mitigate its negative effects. Mr Skelemani said during the just ended three-day Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Trinidad and Tobago that Africa was prepared to address climate change issues, but we need to be assisted and our voice must also be heard so that we share in the solutions.

However, the minister, who represented Botswana at the meeting, warned that without a plan of action the CHOGM and Copenhagen talks on climate change would be in vain.

Accordingly, French President Nicolaz Sarkozy told a news conference in Trinidad and Tobago Friday that it was the duty of the developed world to show solidarity with poor countries because the latter were the most vulnerable to climate change.

Mr Sarkozy said countries should not be made to choose between economic growth and protecting the environment. We need sustainable growth and carbon-free growth so that we strike a balance in combating poverty and addressing issues of global climate change, he said.

He warned that time was running out, arguing that world leaders could no longer afford to remain indifferent in staking claim to the future of our planet.

Only 20 days remain before the Copenhagen meeting and we can no longer afford to remain unambitious because it would be a historic failure if we do not adopt all the decisions taken. Either we take the whole set of decisions or we take none, charged President Sarkozy. He also said priority should be given to combating deforestation hence the 20 per cent of public funds that France and Britain have set aside between 2010 and 2012 to help in this regard. The French president underscored the imperative of adopting binding agreements at the Copenhagen talks and hammering out monitoring mechanism to make sure that decisions adopted were implemented.

Also arguing for financial assistance to poor countries, Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister and CHOGM chairperson, Patrick Manning called out on leaders in developed countries to show empathy to poor countries.

Prime Minister Manning said this years CHOGM theme Partnering for a more equitable and sustainable future was a call that small and vulnerable states of the world can no longer be left behind in issues of global nature.

In her opening remarks, Queen Elizabeth II also said the Commonwealth must remain dedicated to building resilience among smaller states, arguing that to prove its relevance beyond its borders the grouping must prove global leadership as well. Thus, the Queen emphasised, among others, that the Commonwealths future lay with the one billion people under 25 years of age, who must be nurtured to ensure another 60 years of success. BOPA