As last week's UN climate talks concluded in Nairobi, Kenya, plans to combat global warming remain on track towards 2012 goals, although commentators are saying that a landmark breakthrough will not be able to take place until US President George W. Bush's term finishes.
Paal Prestrud, head of the Center for International Climate and Environmental Research in Oslo said, "Everyone is waiting for the United States. I think the whole process will be on ice until 2009."Bush, who is now in his second term as US President, decided not to accept caps under the UN's Kyoto Protocol, despite the fact that the US is the largest source of greenhouse gases on the planet. Commentators say the US refusal to adopt these caps is discouraging other hugely influential top polluters, such as China and India, from accepting them also.
Talks in the Kenyan capital took place over the past two weeks, with about 70 environment ministers agreeing last Friday to a 2008 review of Kyoto. It is hoped that a review at that time will act as a spring board to bigger emission cuts by richer countries beyond 2012.
A firm agreement was also seen this week to help Africa adapt to climate change, including possible affects of droughts, floods and diseases.
Ministers agreed to promote greener technology and further investment into wind and solar power was also a possibility in Africa.
Criticism centred on the sluggish implementation of Kyoto, which obliges 35 rich nations to cut emissions to 5 per cent below 1990 levels by 2008-12.
European Commissioner Stavros Dimas said, "It is increasingly clear that global emissions will have to be halved by mid-century if we are to have a chance of keeping climate change within tolerable limits."
He added that countries had to "step up efforts to complete the process as soon as possible".
