This time around the countries of planet Earth agreed to do something about anthropogenic climate change, but what it was can be categorized as "too little, too late". The Durbin climate talks ended with an agreement to do very little to reduce global warming until 2020. The text adopted Sunday by 190 nations does not contain binding obligations or new promises to reduce the levels of greenhouse gas emissions.
Le Monde calls it an "accord minimal". After ten days of round the clock disscussions the participants agreed to establish a global accord for the reduction of emissions beginning in 2015, but which does go into full effect until 2020. Despite the lead up time given for compliance the proposed document will not have the effect of a binding contract on signatories, a demand made by Europeans at Durban. In the end the EU settled for language that gives the proposed pact legal force, but what exact form the agreement will take was deliberately left vague. In the interim the nations agreed to extend the only international agreement on climate, the Kyoto Protocol, until 2017, bridging a legal gap left open when the Cancun conference failed to reach accord on a replacement treaty. Small island states who are in danger of begin swamped by rising sea levels and extreme storms are alarmed by the
meager results of the conference. South Africa's leadership of the summit was criticized by small and large countries alike, but that didn't stop madam chairperson
[photo] from claiming "history has been made" as she gaveled the proceedings to a close. Perhaps the UN should issue life jackets.
