BACKGROUND: Key sticking points in Cancun

Nov 23, 2010, 11:10 GMT

Washington/Cancun - The climate summit in Cancun aims to rebuild trust between governments after Copenhagen and prepare the way for a more comprehensive deal in the coming years. Key talking points between negotiators:

FINANCING: Wealthy countries agreed in the non-binding Copenhagen Accord to provide 30 billion dollars from 2010-12 for developing countries to adapt to global warming and grow their economies in a climate-friendly manner. Environmentalists worry about transparency and whether the money will come out of existing aid funds.

The rich world agreed to scale up financing to 100 billion dollars per year by 2020. Negotiators will aim to establish a green fund in Cancun and get more concrete commitments for how the looming aid targets will be met.

DEFORESTATION: The UN estimates deforestation accounts for about 17 per cent of greenhouse-gas emissions by humans. Poorer countries want money to protect their woodlands, but negotiators still have to agree on a clear definition of what counts as forest. Indigenous populations and biodiversity are also factors, while wealthy countries should cut programmes that contribute to deforestation.

ADAPTATION: Poorer countries are asking for money to guard against the worst effects of climate change. Such programmes range from constructing dams to better protections against worsening weather extremes like floods and storms.

MITIGATION: The Copenhagen summit saw countries release voluntary targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and the pledges did not match an overall commitment to keep global temperatures from rising more than 2 degrees Celsius. Industrial and emerging powers have been deadlocked in talks over legally binding targets, but there could be agreement on cutting emissions from airplanes and ships.

TRANSPARENCY: Countries must agree on mechanisms for measuring and inspecting efforts by countries to tackle climate change before any global treaty can be agreed. The US has led this effort, but China in particular has resisted inspections of its emissions controls.