In preparation for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting that will take place this November, the government is focusing its work on bringing different countries together in adopting a common stance on the issue of climate change.
During bilateral meetings in New York, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat told the President of Sri Lanka, Maithripala Sirisena, that as a country who currently holds the leabership of the Commonwealth, it has the ability to help bring together the biggest possible consensus regarding climate change, which may then be formalised during CHOGM, which will take place in Malta a few days before a United Nations conference in Paris.
Dr Muscat said that these difficult steps may only be taken if all the different member states of the Commonwealth use their influence in their respective regions. He continued by saying that this is a chance to prove that the Commonwealth is not just ceremonial, but relevant and ready to take up difficult challenges.
The topic of climate change continued to be discussed during another bilateral meeting with the President of Ghana John Dramani Mahama. During this meeting the current phenomenon of immigration was also discussed.
President Mahama said that it is important for the international community to come to a sustainable solution. Dr Muscat said that Europe is finally tackling this issue with one voice, and he also expressed the willingness for the Valletta Summit, which will also take place in November, to lead to an established framework where both European countries as well as African ones work together to address the humanitarian tragedy that is taking place.
Dr Muscat and President Mahama also discussed how Ghana is going through a period of economic development, which has led to immigrants travelling to Ghana from other African nations. Dr Muscat said that the situation of immigration in Africa shows the need for Europe to help poor countries as well as developing countries.
He continued by saying that through this, African people that are experiencing problems of security, safety and stability in their own countries may travel to other African nations where they have opportunities and the possibility of a bright future, rather than travelling to Europe for a better life.