Michael Zammit Cutajar, Ambassador for Climate Change for Malta, was the first head of the UNFCCC and former chair of the AWG LCA. He acknowledges the shock of Copenhagen and suggests this has made people more open to dialogue. He believes it is possible to separate operational from political issues such as the accountability agenda. He deliberates on the nature of multi-lateral treaties and sovereign states, related credibility and work outside of agreements, and explores the links between transparency and finance, saying that verification of money is important. He discusses Malta’s history and contribution to the negotiations and finishes with his thoughts on the second commitment period. This interview was filmed on 10 June, before the talks changed in tenor.