Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham yesterday said The Bahamas would press for a "comprehensive, substantial and operationally binding agreement" by 2010 to reduce carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change, now underway in Copenhagen.

"Such an agreement should also provide for the legitimate development aspirations of developing countries," Ingraham told a news conference prior to his departure for Denmark at the head of his government's delegation to the summit.

Enviable record

He said the delegation was going to Copenhagen "with an enviable and clear environmental record" and would also be stating its case for assistance "from a position of strength, both ethically and because of our consi-derable record and long-term vision.

"I believe it is incumbent upon all of those with a role to play in environmental education to make a greater effort in this direction," he told reporters, adding that it was also important for Bahamians to be well educated on climate-change issues.

"We must all be stewards of God's creation and especially our own natural heritage. I take with me to Copenhagen not only the best practices and environmental needs and successes of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, I also take the hopes and aspirations of all Bahamians for a meaningful agreement that will preserve our way of life and our nationhood," he said.