Alternattiva Demokratika has announced that it is worried about the limited voice that small island states could be having at December’s Copenhagen climate change summit.

Arnold Cassola, AD Spokesperson on EU and International Affairs, stated, “Since countries like Malta will be sending a very small number of delegates compared to the big countries, AD asks Prime Minister Gonzi to push for a coalition of small island states so that the combined representatives of these small island states have a voice that is loud enough to be heard in the decision making process. Islands are the most vulnerable and most threatened by climate change and it is imperative that the voice of the island people is heard most clearly and loudly.”

AD Chairperson Michael Briguglio stated, “It is already a pity that the US and China have already agreed to tone down any drastic measures against climate change at the forthcoming meeting. Let us ensure that the pressing interests of small islands vis a’ vis climate change are catered for to the very best.”

On the EU front Green MEPs are calling for EU leaders to step up the ambition of their climate policies and reclaim EU climate leadership by agreeing on an ambitious EU negotiating position for the UN climate talks. In this context, the Greens have also launched a fun, online communications tool (www.climatecircus.com ) to show how far the climate policies of EU and world leaders are from their rhetoric on climate change.