"We agreed in Bali in December 2007 to build a much stronger international climate regime to better cope with recent alarming analysis of the disastrous effects of climate change. But instead of achieving this new regime, we now see quite unbelievably an attempt to dismantle even the weaker regime that we now have. Instead of a legally binding system to lock in adequate emissions cuts to 2020 for developed countries ...there is now the most likely prospect of a 'voluntary pledge' system in which developed countries merely state what they can do" -- Martin Khor, South Centre
Khor goes on to note that there is still some hope for progress at the climate conference in Durban this year, including formation of a new Green Climate Fund, and at least continuation of the current Kyoto Protocol commitments by a minimum number of developed countries. But in fact, he notes, it is the developing countries which are now making the greatest commitments to act to slow climate change, even though the developed countries are those who bear the greatest responsibility.
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