PORT OF SPAIN (Trinidad and Tobago), Nov 28 (Bernama) -- The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2009 opened here Friday, with the body signalling a strong desire to see that the upcoming United Nations (UN) climate change conference in Copenhagen craft a legally-binding treaty.

They felt that a merely politically-binding climate pact would not be enough as it would be difficult to determine the level of commitment among developed nations.

Malaysian prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and other Commonwealth leaders joined French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Danish Prime Minister Lars Rasmussen and UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon at a special session discussing climate change.

"Many Commonwealth members, especially small island developing states are victims of climate change. In their interventions, some of them said that if global warming continues, their island chains may get submerged.

"For them, it's not merely a problem; it's a question of life and death," Najib told Malaysian journalists at the end of the first day of the summit which was opened by England's Queen Elizabeth II.

He said whether or not a legally-binding climate treaty could be achieved would depend on developments in Copenhagen.

"But it's important for CHOGM to issue a strong statement on this matter," he said.

Set to begin on Dec 7, the climate conference in the Danish capital aims to reach accord on a successor to the Kyoto Protocol of 1997. It will culminate in a summit-level gathering on Dec 17 and 18.

Sarkozy had spoken about the need to create a new body, the World Environmental Organisation, arguing that among the weaknesses of the Kyoto Protocol was the absence of a monitoring body to ensure that all agreements under the protocol were implemented.

Najib said those who took part in today's debate also felt that developing nations, especially small island states, should get a bigger portion of a proposed fund that would provide US$10 billion a year over the next three years aimed at helping poorer nations fight global warming.

The Malaysian leader said during the debate, he pointed out that the Commonwealth should to take a strong stand on the need to hammer out a legally-binding climate deal in Copenhagen.

"I also told the session that nations should not renege on their commitments under the Kyoto Protocol because if they do that, then many fundamental principles would be broken," Najib said.

Alluding to the proposed fund to combat global warming, the prime minister said its administrators should not impose too many conditions on interested countries to avail it.

"The conditions should be kept to a minimum. Otherwise, it will not serve its purpose of helping small island states as well as other developing nations," he said.

Najib observed that those who took part in the debate felt that climate change would continue to pose a threat to developing countries, especially small island states, who did not contribute to global warming.

"But they are the ones who are the most affected," he said.

When opening CHOGM 2009, Queen Elizabeth said the threat to the environment was now a global challenge that would continue to affect the security and stability of millions for years to come.

She said many of those affected were among the most vulnerable, and many of the people least well able to withstand the adverse effects of climate change lived in the Commonwealth.

"The Commonwealth can be proud of the fact that in each of its six decades, it has shaped the international response to emerging global challenges.

"And on this eve of the UN Copenhagen Summit on Climate Change, the Commonwealth has an opportunity to lead once more," she said.

Comprising 53 former British-ruled nations, the Commonwealth celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. (By MUIN ABDUL MAJID/Bernama)