7 Dec 2009

Solomons' Ambassador says failure not an option at Copenhagen

4:27 pm on 7 December 2009

The Solomon Islands ambassador to the United Nations says failure is not an option at the climate change conference in Copenhagen which begins tonight.

The Solomon Times reports Ambassador Collin Beck says he believes a deal will be reached during the summit.

He was speaking following a meeting of the Alliance of Small Island States in the Danish capital.

The states were discussing their strategy for this week's negotiations.

Ambassador Beck says a proposed annual 10 billion US dollar climate change fund is inadequate, but the conference provides an opportunity to build on it.

He says they must also work to get developed countries to agree to more ambitious targets to stabilise greenhouse gas emissions, as current commitments fall below what is needed.