The Nairobi Climate Change Summit (COP 12 - MOP 2): Taking a Deep Breath before Negotiating Post-2012 Targets?

Coming at the end of a year where public awareness of climate change had reached unprecedented heights, there was much hope by the general public that the United Nations climate change conference in Nairobi would be characterised by a renewed sense of urgency and seriousness. However, although a sense of urgency was present in many delegates individually, the conference proceeded with its usual diplomatic ritual at an almost surrealistic slow pace, apparently unaffected by time pressure. While it did see some progress on important issues for developing countries such as the Adaptation Fund, the Nairobi Work Programme on Impacts, Vulnerability, and Adaptation to Climate Change, and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), on questions regarding the future of the regime it proved to be at best a confidence-building session that served to hear further views. More serious work on the future of the regime can — and must — therefore be expected of the next Conferences of the Parties.