Climate accord reached at Cancun
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The UN climate change conference finally approved the documents of a climate deal early Saturday after an all-night session, overruling objection from Bolivia.
"The texts on the table represent the work many delegations, that carry the hope of delivering what our societies expect," said Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa, chair of the conference.
"I take note of your opinion, but if there are no other objections this text is approved," Espinosa told Pablo Solon, the Bolivian representative.
Bolivia has been rejecting the draft documents, saying they amounted to a blank check for developed nations, because the commitments set to be in documents which have not yet been published.
"We will get every international body necessary to make sure that the consensus is respected," said Solon, adding that the rules said that no agreement should be passed when one state strongly objects.
"Consensus does not mean that one nation can choose to apply a veto on a process that other nations have been working on for years. I cannot ignore the opinion of another 193 states that are parties," Espinosa replied.
Her response received a huge applause from the floor.
The documents were approved at the plenary session after being considered first by an informal plenary and then being passed to the two working groups that cover the Kyoto Protocol and longer commitment actions (LCAs), respectively.
The protocol commits signatories to reducing emissions by 5.2 percent by the end of 2012 when its first commitment runs out. The LCA documents discuss deeper and broader commitments to reduction.
Most nations, including some of those most vulnerable to climate change, expressed support for the draft documents, although there were several nations that expressed reservations about the final accord.
The two-week long talks in Cancun were aimed at setting new targets - and finding new ways - to try and combat climate change.
The high profile discussions included some 25,000 government officials, businessmen, researchers and lobbyists - from more than 190 countries.
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