3 May 2010

Tuvalu PM not optimistic for UN deal on climate change

7:39 pm on 3 May 2010

The Prime Minister of Tuvalu says he's not optimistic about signing a deal at this year's United Nations climate change summit that would require countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

During a conference in Taipei, Apisai Ielemia told Channel News Asia he can not see a legally binding agreement being signed in Mexico at the end of the year.

Mr Ielemia also criticised the accord reached at last year's Copenhagen summit, saying that to agree to it would have been like signing a death certificate for his people.

The Prime Minister said the Copenhagen deal favoured the United States over small island countries like Tuvalu, and accused US of bullying small countries that will be most affected by climate change.

Mr Ielemia made headlines at the Copenhagen summit when he warned that rising sea levels could submerge his homeland.