UNFCCC Press Briefing on Copenhagen Outcome

UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer gave a press conference today to sum up the outcomes of the Copenhagen climate change meeting with the following remarks:It is fair to say that Copenhagen did not produce the full agreement the world needs to address the collective climate challenge. That only makes the task more urgent. The window of opportunity to come grips with the issue is closing at the same rate as before.

But although COP15 wasn’t a full success, it produced three key outcomes. First, it raised climate change to the highest level of government, which ultimately is the only level at which it can be resolved. Second, the Copenhagen Accord reflects a political consensus on the long-term, global response to climate change. Third, negotiations away from the cameras brought an almost full set of decisions to implement rapid climate action near to completion.

We’re now in a cooling off period that gives useful and needed time for countries to resume their discussions with each other.
Copenhagen set out to deliver an agreement on four essential areas: medium-term emission cuts by industrialised countries; action by developing countries to limit the growth of their emissions; finance to implement action; and an equitable governance of the climate regime.

Those issues remain as relevant as they were before Copenhagen. If countries follow up Copenhagen’s outcomes calmly, with eyes firmly fixed on the advantage of collective action, they have every chance of completing the job.”
more on http://unfccc.int/files/press/news_room/statements/application/pdf/unfccc_speaking_notes_20100120.pdf