Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party said that even though the Kyoto protocol was saved through the Durban Climate Change summit, no concrete decisions were taken to prioritise the climate change issue on a global level. 

Carmel Cacopardo AD spokesperson on sustainable development said: “The climate change talks in Durban have failed once more. They are a failure of the international community to arrive at a solution. Instead the issues were just postponed to another time. The agreement to conclude by 2015 and implement by 2020 is no conclusion at all as when the agreed deadlines are reached the same issues which have prevented conclusion today will probably crop up once more.

“Equity has proven to be a main issue as regards the politics of climate change: with India insisting that there is a common but differentiated responsibility towards carbon emissions. This issue has not been abandoned. It will crop up again when negotiations resume on the manner to implement the agreed roadmap.  A Green Climate Fund has been set up to assist undeveloped countries. Yet who will contribute, and by how much has still to be determined.  

The Durban Platform for Enhanced Action has been agreed to because it does not determine one concrete deliverable.  Diplomacy may have had a good day as the Kyoto Protocol has been saved. But the climate is a loser as urgent decisions have once again been postponed”.

Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, said: “The biggest disappointment is that whilst there is global consensus that the tragic consequences of climate change can be prevented, yet the issue is not being given the priority it deserves on a global level. Once severe impacts will be closer to the global community, it will probably be too late to adapt to change. Compared to other global powers such as the USA and BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China), the EU has a historic role to play as world leader in the politics of climate change”.