Kampala - The Commonwealth has resolved to work closely to promote policies to combat climate change, in their countries and across the Commonwealth.

In a statement issued on 24 November 24 2007 the Heads reaffirmed their commitment to the 1989 Langkswi Declaration on the Environment, noting that climate change is a direct threat to the very survival of some Commonwealth countries, particularly small island states.

"Climate change can undermine our continuing efforts to achieve the Millennium Development goals", they observed. The statement was read out by Uganda's President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, at a press briefing at the Speke Resort Munyonyo, where the Heads of Government were holding their two day retreat, which ended 25 November 25 2007. The outgoing Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon was present at the briefing.

Heads of Government pledged to adopt common positions on climate change and to support the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to reach an agreement on collective, comprehensive and global action.

In implementing this, Heads stressed the importance of recognising constraints faced by the least developed and developing countries and the need to share the burden equitably.

The statement also called for increased financing of initiatives and incentives such as carbon credits for developing countries, to enhance the mitigation of climate change.

Heads noted that development was crucial to combating climate change, since an educated and healthy society is often best placed to generate the necessary resources to invest in cleaner technologies and systems, and to fund adaptation measures.

Leaders also signaled that they would take a common position during the forthcoming climate change conference in Bali, and urged the Commonwealth Secretariat to take the lead in implementing these shared goals and actions, in partnership with other international institutions.

"Our governments will contribute additional technical and financial support according to our means," they stated.