POZNAN, Poland (Reuters) - Malta wants to join the group of rich nations meant to lead the fight against global warming, bringing the Mediterranean island into line with its European Union partners, the government said on Wednesday.
Malta would apply in 2009 to join the group of about 40 nations including EU states, Japan and the United States, George Pullicino, Minister for Resources and Rural Affairs, said in a statement.
"Malta seeks to put itself on the same legal footing as its fellow (EU) member states in a collective and responsible commitment to continue reducing emissions of greenhouse gases after 2012," he said on the sidelines of December 1-12 climate talks in Poland.
Malta's greenhouse gas emissions totaled just 3.2 million tons in 2006, the lowest of any of the 27 EU nations and just 0.1 percent of the total, according to the European Environment Agency.
Emissions are rising fast and are projected to be 62 percent above the 1990 benchmark by 2012.
"Malta is a very small island country, highly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change," Pullicino said. He did not say what goals Malta might set.
Several countries have joined the group of rich nations in recent years, including the Czech Republic and Slovakia after the breakup of Czechoslovakia, and Croatia and Slovenia after the former Yugoslavia split.
Pullicino said that Malta had a long history of involvement in debate on climate change and had introduced the theme 20 years ago to the U.N. General Assembly.
EU leaders will meet in Brussels on December 11-12 for a summit meant to approve an overall goal of cutting EU greenhouse gases by 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2020.
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(Editing by Louise Ireland)
