WITH THREE WEEKS to go before the start of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) in Copenhagen, Denmark, the governments of the Caribbean Community are intensifying preparations to ensure a most productive outcome to help safeguard this region's future against threatening challenges to sustainable development.

CARICOM's Task Force for Climate Change and Development is playing a key coordinating role in collaboration with the community's Climate Change Centre and the Alliance of Small Island Developing States to help ensure that the region's major concerns are reflected in the final document for action in Copenhagen.

Much is at stake for the Caribbean region, as had emerged at the first United Nations-sponspored Global Conference On Sustainable Development Of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), that took place in Barbados back in April 1994.

As recognised at CARICOM's 30th regular summit in Guyana last July, the total annual impact of potential climate change on all community countries is estimated at US$9.09 billion in total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) calculated at 2007 US$ prices.

Or, measured differently, about 11.03 per cent of total annual GDP of all of the 20 countries comprising CARICOM's member states and associate member states, according to World Bank estimates.

Not surprisingly, therefore, the CARICOM heads of government unanimously agreed at their summit in Guyana to a set of priorities for this region that include the reduction of "green house gas" emissions; mitigation and adaptation; the transfer of technology; renewable energy; forest conservation and avoidance of deforestation.

Ahead of next month's UN Convention On Climate Change, CARICOM leaders have also affirmed their belief that the global response to climate change should be undertaken on the basis of "common but differentiated, as well as historical responsibility".

Further, that the global response should not compromise the ability of the Small Island Developing States to pursue "sustainable development" as identified at the1994 conference in Barbados. CARICOM is also hoping that costs-sharing to meet climate change challenges would be "equitable" and not result in the perpetuation of poverty.

Meanwhile Guyana, currently pursuing a Low-Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), with the support of CARICOM in its approach to harmonising climate change mitigation and economic development, will this week exend its lobbying efforts at a meeting with Prince Charles in London through his international Rainforests Project.

Last week, Norway signed a memorandum of understanding with Guyana to provide US$250 million over five years to help advance the primary objectives of its LCDS project, aware of its importance in the wider Caribbean region's response to the challenges of climate change.