Climate Talks Move Forward, But Slowly

Bali participants take baby steps toward fighting global warming

By Sam Gale Rosen, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 4, 2007 12:20 PM CST

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Climate Talks Move Forward, But Slowly — President of the Conference of Parties 12 of United Nations Framework Conference on Climate Change (UNFCCC), David Mwiraria of Kenya delivers his speech during the opening ceremony of U.N. Climate Conference in Nusa Dua, Bali island, Indonesia, Monday, Dec. 3, 2007. Delegates and scientists from around... (Associated Press)

Sniping among the 190 nations in attendance isn't keeping the climate talks in Bali from inching forward, Reuters reports. Participants have succeeded in putting together a "special group" to look at post-Kyoto Protocol options, but "the devil's in the detail," cautioned a top UN official. Meanwhile, environmentalists and protesters continue to demand faster action.

"A marriage contract is not something to discuss on a first date," said the UN official, Yvo de Boer. Environmentalist groups have given Japan a "fossil of the day" award, which they award to the country perceived to be holding up talks the most. Japan has been trying to shift discussion to the obligations of large developing nations like India and China. (More Bali stories.)

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