Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi this afternoon made a heartfelt appeal to countries participating in the UN climate change summit to come up with a meaningful, effective and fair deal.

“Malta, together with its EU partners, has put forward significant quantifiable commitments. I now call upon you, our negotiating partners, at this crucial point in time, to engage more forcefully to reach a meaningful outcome.”

While negotiations continued without any agreement in sight, a large number of heads of states had three minutes each today to have their say and call for the kind of deal they are hoping for.

Dr Gonzi said Malta had pledged its support, and 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.

He said climate change impacted the most vulnerable countries, and as a small island state in the basin of the Mediterranean, Malta shared their concerns.

“Malta is likely to have to cope with grave problems including, in particular, water scarcity arising from diminished rainfall, but also other effects such as extreme weather conditions and rising sea water levels.”

He stressed that climate change could intensify immigration.

“Malta therefore recognises the need to provide the least developed countries, in particular vulnerable African countries, with adequate and effective capacity building and financing.”

Dr Gonzi also boasted that despite its size and limitations, Malta had in 1988 come up with the initiative that led to the adoption of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.