While the United Nations recognised an accord on climate change between a US-led group of five nations in Copenhagen as "an essential beginning", local voices merged with those of other countries in expressing their frustration.

The failure of global leaders to reach an ambitious and legally binding agreement during the climate summit raises pressing concerns for Malta.

As a small island state, the country faces multiple threats, the major one being rising sea levels that will affect low-lying residential areas, flood beaches, affect the country's ports and tourism facilities and seep into the water table, devastating agriculture.

Resources Minister George Pullicino said the summit was almost a total failure: "The so-called Copenhagen accord falls considerably short of EU expectations.

It neither provides binding emission targets for US, China and other emerging economies such as India and Brazil, nor does it provide a comprehensive package of financial aid for adaptation by the most vulnerable countries."

Labour Party spokesperson on climate change Leo Brincat said the deal is striking only for what it left out.

"It was evident from the beginning that there would be no legally binding document at the end of the Copenhagen summit, but no one expected a document that fell so far short of expectations," he said.

On Friday evening, the US, China, Brazil, India and South Africa - the biggest emitters of greenhouse gas emissions - reached a last-minute agreement. Most other delegations had not even seen the declaration, when the White House announced the accord, prompting some leaders to describe it as a "coup d'état".

The declaration failed to secure unanimous support, amid opposition from some developing nations which felt it failed to deliver the actions needed to halt dangerous climate change.

The accord has no long-term global targets for emission cuts or a timetable to turn the agreement into a legally-binding treaty.

It promises to deliver $10 billion of aid for developing nations for the next three years, with a goal of providing $100 billion a year by 2020 to help poor countries cope with the impacts of climate change. This money falls short of the $75-100 billion a year the UN says is needed now.

Friends of the Earth (FOE) said negotiations must now become even more intense to reach a just and effective climate agreement. "Politicians cannot call this outcome a success when nothing meaningful has been agreed," said chairman Martin Galea De Giovanni.

FOE dubbed the five-nation accord "a flimsy declaration", saying US President Obama's take-it-or leave-it ultimatum was shameful.

"We are disgusted by the failure of rich countries to commit to the emissions reductions they know are needed, especially the US," Mr De Giovanni said.

Birdlife said the way in which the no-deal was reached by the US and a handful of other countries goes completely against the UN charter.

"It also proves that radical action needed on the most important single issue for the future of our planet cannot be reached within the current global economic and political system. The Copenhagen summit has sealed the end of thousands of species and millions of poor people in developing nations," BLM executive director Tolga Temuge said.

Alternattiva Demokratika's spokesman on sustainable development Carmel Cacopardo said: "The impacts of climate change should lead us to consider whether Malta will be capable of supporting a population of 400,000."

In Copenhagen, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi recognised the grave consequences of climate change on Malta, including the potential increase flow of immigrants. Africa is already feeling the impact of increased droughts and food scarcity, leading to larger numbers of refugees.

Before global leaders at the climate change conference, the Prime Minister pledged Malta's support, and said the country committed itself with credibility and transparency by applying to be recognised as one of the Annex I countries - a list of developed countries, including all EU member states except Cyprus.

The Prime Minister added that Malta's dedication to climate change has been constant, despite fighting back criticism at home on the choice of heavy fuel oil for the Delimara power plant extension.

Pressure is now on the government to create a plan to prepare the island to deal with the impacts.

Mr Brincat said it was positive for the Resources Minister to represent the EU on the summit's climate change adaptation committee but then one must recall that Malta does not yet have its own adaptation strategy.