Although discussions and initiatives on Climate Change have grabbed the headlines at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2009, the main issue on the agenda of the Commonwealth’s young people was “Youth Involvement in Decision Making.”

The Commonwealth Youth Forum officially closed on Friday night after seven days of intense work and some play but the work was not finished because on Saturday, the Youth Dialogue was held. This comprised of a selection of delegates from the Youth Forum in discussions with Heads of State where the case for decision making inclusion was once again put forward by the youth.

“Leaders are united in purpose when addressing the issue of Climate Change but not united in action and we must seal the deal in Copenhagen”. Those are the words of Ban Ki-moon Secretary General of the United Nations as he addressed the media during the presentation of the Port of Spain Climate Change Consensus: The Commonwealth Climate Change Declaration.

The Secretary General expressed gratitude to the Honourable Patrick Manning, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago for the opportunity to address the issue of climate change at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2009 ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Demark from December 7 to 18.

Commonwealth Heads of Government leaders are quickly moving towards supporting a comprehensive and legally binding agreement on climate change in Copenhagen.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Patrick Manning along with Commonwealth Secretary General, Kamalesh Sharma, United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, Danish Prime Minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, and Australia’s Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made the announcement at a media conference on Saturday.