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Source: Directgov

The international climate conference in Copenhagen ran from 7 to 18 December 2009, with the final talks running into Saturday 19 December. The conference did not as yet lead to the creation of a hoped-for legally binding agreement, but an accord signed by the majority of countries.

The Accord: what was agreed

The Copenhagen Accord stresses the need for strong domestic action on climate change across the world. Many countries are already taking domestic action, as is the UK through its Low Carbon Transition Plan.

The Accord includes:

* international backing for an overall limit of two degrees on global warming
* agreement that all countries need to take action on climate change
* financial help for the countries most at risk from climate change: $30 billion or £19 billion over the next three years, rising to US$100 billion (£61 billion) a year by 202

For the first time, the new Copenhagen Accord will also list what each country is doing to tackle climate change. This includes:

* economy-wide commitments to cut emissions by developed countries, and actions taken by developing countries
* introducing real scrutiny and transparency to ensure emissions targets are put into effect - countries must report on this every two years

As the conference closed, the participant countries said they were working to convert the Copenhagen Accord into a legally binding agreement as soon as possible. Countries that signed the Accord now have until 31 January 2010 to enter their planned emissions cuts in the formal register.

Source text and image: Directgov - public services all in one place