Attended by representatives from over 180 countries, the United Nations Conference is set for a breakthrough in international Climate Change Negotiations

United Nations Conference on Climate Change, Bali, 3rd-14th Dec 2007

The United Nations Conference in Bali began on Monday and hopes are high for a breakthrough in international climate change negotiations.

The conference will be the 13th meeting of the 192 members of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and it is hoped that the result will be negotiations on a climate change deal for the period post 2012 when the Kyoto Protecol is due to expire.

On the back of unequivocal evidence provide by the IPCC last month, the Conference Presient, Rachmat Witoelar said that  "countries now have to agree on the agenda for negotiations".

Areas likely to be included in a new deal should include mitigation (including reduction of deforestation), adaption, technology and finance.

In addition to these negotiations towards a binding treaty, other issues will be discussed including adaptation schemes, technology transfer and the possibility of a global carbon market.

UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Yvo de Boer expressed the importance of a global effort. "It is essential that vulnerable developing countries are in a position to draw up plans to prepare for climate change impacts... It is also essential that agreement is reached on how the Kyoto Protecol's Adaptation Fund is managed so that the fund can begin funding real adaptation projects".

For more information and to see how the conference progresses, visit the conference website