Re: Fwd: [WeAreChangeFlorida] UN No climate treaty expected in Copenhagen

UN climate talks in Copenhagen are unlikely to produce a new legally-binding treaty on cutting carbon emissions, says a top UN climate official.  "A fully fledged new international treaty under the convention -- I do not think that is going to happen," Yvo de Boer told the Financial Times newspaper Tuesday, referring to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change  (UNFCCC).  He cited 'lack of time' as the reason behind his prediction.  "If you look at the limited amount of time remaining to Copenhagen, that's clear," de Boer said.  The UN official also added that the summit should now focus on "what can realistically be done and how that can realistically be framed".  That means reaching an "overarching decision at Copenhagen that sets out individual targets for industrialized countries, that decides how major developing countries intend to engage (in curbing emissions by) 2020, and hopefully that puts that in the context of a long-term goal," he stressed.  He also said that world powers should set a deadline by which time these pledges could be negotiated to a treaty.  The high-stake December 7-18 summit in the Danish capital is to look into drawing up a new global climate treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.