Copenhagen/Nuuk, Greenland  - Against a backdrop of icebergs and glaciers under threat over global warming, Greenland Friday was again hosting an informal meeting of environment ministers and officials from over two dozen countries.

Danish Climate and Energy Minister Connie Hedegaard organized the meeting where ministers and officials discussed tackling climate change.

Brazil, India, Japan, Russia and the United States as well as several European countries were represented along with small island nations like Barbados and Grenada.

Missing from the meeting was China which, according to Danish media reports, pulled out in protest against a recent meeting between Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader.

The venue was the town of Ilulissat, which means icebergs in Greenlandic - an Inuit language. It is situated at the mouth of a big fjord known for its huge icebergs that come from the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier.

The meeting with its limited numbers gave ministers and aides ample time to discuss ideas and create informal ties for larger conferences. There was also limited media access.

In the runup to the meeting, Hedegaard told Danish media that the international negotiatons on climate have become "extremely complicated with their own technical language."

"In order to generate sufficient pressure and support from finance ministers, heads of state and government leaders, we need to get a more political language with less 'UN jargon'," Hedegaard added.

Greenland hosted the first such informal parely in 2005. Similar meetings were held 2006 in South Africa, 2007 in northern Sweden, and 2008 in Argentina.

In December, Demark is to host a UN climate conference when participating countries will be asked to agree on substantial cuts in the emission of dangerous greenhouse gases, as of 2012.

Greenland, the world's largest island, has in recent years seen a spate of visits from ministers, prime ministers and even royalty.

At the end of May, the island hosted Danish Crown Prince Frederik, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, and Swedish Crown Princess Victoria who were accompanied by researchers.

In June, Greenland gained more autonomy within Denmark. The Arctic island has had home rule since 1979.(dpa)