To help developing nations to deal with climate change and cut greenhouse gases, Commonwealth leaders have backed a multi-billion-dollar plan for the environment.

Proposed by UK and French leaders at the Commonwealth summit last Friday, the fund would start next year and build to $10 billion annually by 2012.

Many island states threatened by rising sea levels are Commonwealth members.

Leaders also called for the strongest possible outcome at next month’s climate change summit in Copenhagen.

Although Commonwealth leaders admit that “a full legally binding outcome” might have to wait to 2010, they unanimously agreed to seek a legally binding international agreement.

A statement in Trinidad on Saturday said that Commonwealth leaders “welcomed the initiative to establish, as part of a comprehensive agreement, a Copenhagen Launch Fund starting in 2010 and building to a level of resources of $10 billion annually by 2012.”

(article and photo source: BBC)