UN General Assembly
2009

Copenhagen Summit. Two days ago, this Hall witnessed one of the largest-ever gatherings of Heads of State and Heads of Government to debate the future of our planet Earth. During this unique summit we all agreed that the challenges posed by climate change have become the most urgent and critical faced by humankind. It will be recalled that in 1988, when Malta took the initiative to formally submit the issue of climate change as a political item on the agenda of the forty- third session of the General Assembly, few of us would have thought at that time that this issue of climate change would become in the span of two decades one of the principal critical issues dominating the international environmental concerns of this new century. Throughout these 20 years, Malta has been in the forefront of those ensuring that climate change continues to be one of the top-priority issues of our times. Our commitment of 20 years ago remains steadfast and as strong as ever. As we have heard during the past few days, the outcome of the