Reliance on political will

As we reach this important part of the of talks, the negotiations themselves generally stop, and the many batons are passed to Ministers, Prime Ministers, and Presidents to being to build trust and find compromise among their positions. This is where we are at this moment.
The undecided issues on the table are two-fold:
1) The continuation of the Kyoto Protocol, the world’s only legally-binding global agreement on climate change, that involves all countries but the United States
2) A new legally binding global climate deal that involves all major emitters, including the United States.
The big issue at the moment is that Japan has said that it will not agree to a second set of goals under the Kyoto agreement, since it does not involve all of the world’s biggest emitters. The first delivery date for emission reductions under the Kyoto Protocol is for the year 2012. What is being discussed here is a second commitment period – what happens after 2012.
Meanwhile, the majority of the world’s countries – including heavy hitters such as China – will only engage in a legally binding global treaty if developed countries do their fair share, and commit to a second commitment period in the Kyoto Protocol
The next five to ten years are crucial in addressing climate change. In planning to ensure the safest scenario of climate change, emissions must begin falling after the year 2015 at the latest.
That said, being stuck in a “you first, no you first” situation is markedly political. All of the options are on the table and every country seems to understand the task at hand. As developed countries have released the majority of emissions into the atmosphere to date, it is a core element and crucial understanding of these negotiations that they shall act first.
The ultimate goal of these negotiations is to deliver on emission reductions that will give us the best chances for the sustainability of biodiversity, and the livelihoods of people around the world.
Negotiations continued late into the night. And while the United Nations is not the golden solution, this global forum provides a global direction and provides international transparency for all countries to do their fair share in dealing seriously with this global challenge.
Hasta la mañana.