Editorial: Roll on to Mexico

OPINION: As politicians and commentators debate the big question in the wash-up of the Copenhagen climate conference – whether the talks were only mildly disappointing or a complete waste of time – it is worth considering the few crumbs of hope that were left on the table.

To be clear the outcome of the talks – billed as the most important climate conference in the world's history – was disappointing for everyone involved.

The Copenhagen Accord is an agreement between the United States, China, Brazil, India and South Africa to set a target of limiting global warming to a maximum of 2 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial times but set no specific reduction targets for the world's biggest polluters.

The accord was aimed at mollifying the objections of developing nations to big cuts to emissions by holding out the carrot of a US$100 billion aid fund to help them out. Where and when this money would arrive is unclear.

The accord is non-binding and was "noted" by other world leaders. It is tantamount to an agreement reached in a bar and written down on the back of a fag packet.

The target falls short of the bare minimum expected out of the conference and managed to disappoint even Prime Minister John Key, a politician who can usually be relied upon to see a half full glass in front of him.

President Barack Obama, also an optimist, made the most of what had been agreed, pointing out that it was the first time in history that all the world's big economies had got together to accept their responsibility to take action on the threat of climate change.

In other words, the world has admitted it has a problem. This is not quite the same as checking into rehabilitation, but at least it is a start.

The good news is that a timetable has been set to conclude a United Nations treaty by the end of 2010. UN deadlines tend to be more flexible than Olympic gymnasts but the Mexico round of climate talks – in theory – is only 11 months away.

With Copenhagen ascribed to history as a failure, the pressure will be on to do better in Mexico.

There were also some positives for the Pacific out of the talks.

Firstly, everyone has now heard of Tuvalu after that tiny nation managed to draw the world's attention to how bleak the future can be when it looks like the only option open to you is the submarine business.

Copenhagen was also a success for our Government's practical push for funding to support research into ways of limiting the greenhouse gases produced by agriculture. This issue is crucial to our future and the project has won the support of 19 other countries, including heavyweights India and the United States.

Mr Key initially baulked at attending the conference, dismissing it as a photo opportunity, and it seems he was not far wrong. He will regard Copenhagen as disappointing. But was it a waste of time? Definitely not.