If agreement is not reached in Copenhagen in two months time, the last bus would have been missed to save the planet from catastrophic consequences resulting from climate change. As secretary general Ban Ki Moon aptly put it, the world’s glaciers are melting at a faster rate than progress is being made in the discussions and action. Countries have dragged their feet far too long, at the expense of further damage being done to the climatic patterns of the earth. As another speaker said ‘time is not our ally, but time will be our judge’.

In my opinion, while the main sources of alternative energy, like wind, the sun, geothermal and waves will continue to supply the demands in the future, I strongly believe that the long term will see a surge in the use of hydrogen as a source of clean energy, and so it is important from now, for our country to keep an eye open to developments in that field.

Both during the UN summit on climate change as well as the General Assembly, which I attended together with Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and Malta’s ambassador to the UN, many heads of state expressed the view that an eventual final agreement in Copenhagen should be based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibility taking into account the respective capabilities of states. Costa Rica, together with other countries stated the belief that the key to the solution is the significant increase in international co-operation, in order to forge an international pact in order to transfer aid, information and technology.

Referring not just to climate change, President Obama, addressing the General Assembly last Wednesday, in what could turn out to be a historic speech, recognised the fact that states, including America have been dragging their feet for far too long on certain issues, including regional wars. He called upon the international community to abandon the old arguments of the 20th century, and not drag them into the 21st. He called on states to make clean energy; the profitable energy.

He showed the hope that a change in mentality now could herald the dawn of a new era, where we are defined by what we believe in instead of by what we are against, and that “the old habits, the old arguments, are irrelevant to the changes faced by our people”. It is the forward looking message of a President who is calling for a surgical cut with the past, and the passé way of thinking. A message of hope based on the recognition that it is us who must solve our problems, and that no one will solve them for us, and that if we don’t solve them future generations will suffer.

On the same frequency was the Prime Minister’s suggestion that in parallel with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it is now time, and circumstances dictate that the United Nations works on a charter delineating and laying down the fundamental duties and obligations of human beings towards life on earth in all its manifestations, the natural environment, which surrounds us and with which we continuously interact. I will go one step further and also the heavens, considering the advances made in space exploration.

It would be a universal declaration indicating our fundamental responsibilities as human beings, towards the world around us. This was surely one of the most interesting suggestions made in the session, and one hopes it will find support.

Environmental protection is another form of respect towards the rights and dignity of others and above all towards all of creation.

Respect and solidarity even towards future generations who cannot make their voice heard today. This must be in line with the principle that man enjoys no monopoly over the environment.

Franco Debono is a Nationalist MP