In a negotiating session I attended this morning the Island nation of (and former member of AOSIS) Malta requested an amendment that would give them Annex 1 status under the UNFCCC’s convention. The main motivation behind the request, which was submitted in April of 2009, was Malta’s new status as a member of the European Union.
Malta’s representative stated that as a result of his country’s EU membership they were bound by the EU’s environmental rules and regulations. This makes all of Malta’s emission reduction requirements equivalent to, or even greater than most annex 1 nations. As a result of their increased participation in reducing their emissions on the same level as other EU nations they wish to have the same legal footing in the UNFCCC meetings as an annex 1 nation, as they will be bound by any decision made within the annex 1 nations anyways.
After the delegate from Malta had finished his statement the delegate from Grenada made a statement wishing the former AOSIS member luck and commented on how they were proud that a former member was going to be a member of the annex 1 and that she was glad that a small island nation would finally have a voice within annex 1 negotiations. It was humbling to hear her (the delegate from Grenada) speak as it was apparent that the ability to have a small island state as a member of the annex 1 seemed to inspire hope.
The decision was deferred to a committee which is to be chaired by the delegate from Canada and they will then report back to the general assembly next week, however one would hope that as Malta has the backing of the EU, that this decision will allow them to join the annex 1 and give small island nations a voice they have long desired and needed.
