The 187 countries meeting in Bali today agreed to launch negotiations towards a new climate change deal, with a ‘clear agenda’, according to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Earlier agreements had already been prepared on adaptation to climate change and technology transfer.

At the heart of the new agreement will be the way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In the Bali Action Plan published today, a target range (of 25 to 40% emissions reduction) met a US veto, but the text now says 'measurable, reportable and verifiable nationally appropriate mitigation commitments or actions, including quantified emission limitation and reduction objectives, by all industrialised country Parties'. Moreover, developing countries will consider committing to 'Measurable, reportable and verifiable nationally appropriate mitigation actions'. For the EU, this compromise will do for the moment.

Indonesian Environment Minister and President of the conference, Rachmat Witoelar said: “We now have a Bali roadmap, we have an agenda and we have a deadline. But we also have a huge task ahead of us and time to reach agreement is extremely short, so we need to move quickly.”

Yvo de Boer, UNFCCC Executive Secretary, added: “This is a real breakthrough, a real opportunity for the international community to successfully fight climate change. Parties have recognised the urgency of action on climate change and have now provided the political response to what scientists have been telling us is needed.

While a new global deal is envisaged for 2013, countries also agreed on a number of steps that need to be taken immediately to further implement the existing commitments of Parties to the UNFCCC. These issues are particularly important for developing countries (see factsheet).

See the UNFCCC press release and the official Bali Action Plan.

Later more details on the GreenPrices website.