United Nations Radio

The Pacific Island nation of Tuvalu is calling on the world community to commit to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions to avoid too much of an increase in global temperatures.

Apisai Ielemia

Tuvalu's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Labour Apisai Ielemia said that as one of the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, his country was urging the world not to abandon the Kyoto Protocol as we approach the climate change meeting in Copenhagen:

"Let me repeat we must not abandon the Kyoto Protocol. I fear that some countries are hoping that the Kyoto Protocol will disappear so that they can take softer emission reduction commitments."

The Prime Minister called on the United States and other greenhouse gas polluting countries to take a leadership role and drastically reduce their emissions. He also called for a reduction in emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, but through new funds to build the capacity of forested developing countries to reduce their deforestation rates, rather than through carbon markets which, the Prime Minister said, would not deliver climate change outcomes.

Diane Bailey, United Nations.
duration: 1'10"