During today’s noon briefing at the midpoint of the critical ministerial segment of the conference, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer voiced concern about the pace of negotiations. He explained that many of the outstanding issues taken into the high-level segement had been linked to each other, thereby creating an “an all-or-nothing situation,” and that if the work on a future agreement was not completed in time, then “the whole house of cards falls to pieces."

Mr.de Boer stressed that it was “imperative for all countries to realize that progress on the future is in their interest." The whole purpose of launching these formal negotiations, he said, was to achieve a broader agreement that would deliver on existing commitments under the Convention; for example on technology and on finance to green the economic growth of developing countries. Without a decision on the future, he said, that prospect would no longer be there.

The discussion on the future was currently bogged down on several points, he explained. These included how to formulate the level of ambition for both rich and poor countries, how to formulate what would be delivered in terms of technology transfer and also financial issues.

On the recurring question of whether emission reduction ranges would be included in the text on the future, Mr. de Boer acknowledged that some countries such as the European Union and a number of G77 countries were in favour of including the 25%-40% range in the text, while others such as the United States had made clear their opposition to this idea. Any inclusion of numbers in the text, he added, would exceed his expectations for this conference.

Mr. de Boer underlined once again the prevailing momentum for political action. Everyone had come here with the stated desire to formally launch negotiations, he said. It would therefore be very difficult for any politician to have to go back home and explain that they had failed to deliver a political answer to what the scientists have been saying.