Bursik welcomes outcome of Bali talks

Environment Minister Martin Bursik has hailed the outcome of the UN-led talks on climate change in Bali as a defining moment in climate diplomacy. Following grueling all-night talks, the conference of 190 nations agreed to launch negotiations on a new pact to fight global warming after a reversal by the United States enabled a breakthrough. The agreement reached is a “roadmap” for two years of talks to adopt a new treaty to succeed the Kyoto Protocol beyond 2012, widening it to the United States and developing nations such as China and India. Under the deal, a successor pact will be agreed at a meeting in Copenhagen in late 2009. Although some environment activists say the agreement reached is “toothless” delegates say it was as much as could be expected under the circumstances.