People should readjust their expectations for the upcoming United Nations climate conference in Cancun, according to experts who attended a Global Green Think-Tank Summit in Beijing, on November 22. All eyes are on the Cancun meeting, which opens on November 29, after the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen last year failed to agree a legally binding treaty for the years beyond 2012.

"It will be difficult to achieve substantial progress in the negotiations among governments," said Sun Siming, chief representative for Asia-Pacific of the Clean Air Task Force, "but the international community can hold talks on how to help enterprises reduce carbon emissions."

Professor Zhao Zhongxiu from the Institute of Global Low-carbon Economy, University of International Business and Economics agreed. "Maybe we have to lower our expectations for the Cancun talks, but energy saving and emissions reduction is a long-term task. The principle we insist on doesn't change; that is, the government plays a leading role in this fight, and enterprises have to actively follow the policy."

Although prospects for the Cancun conference are not optimistic, some progress could be made, such as agreements on carbon funds, technology transfer and forest protection, according to Huang Huikang, China's special climate envoy.

At the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, last December, developed nations pledged US$30 billion of fast-track funding for developing countries through 2012, and committed to raising US$100 billion annually by 2020.

"But only US$3 billion has so far been provided by the developed countries," Huang said. "So one of the major tasks at Cancun is to get them to implement the agreement reached last year, and make proper arrangements for long-term funding."

"And as for technology, developed countries have an obligation to provide and transfer their environmental-friendly technology to help developing nations adapt to climate change, reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency. Intellectual property should not be used to put obstacles in the way of such a transfer; it should be unconditional."

Only with financial and technological support from developed countries will it be possible for developing countries to cut carbon intensity per unit of gross domestic product (GDP), Huang said.

Another focus at Cancun will be the controversial demand by some rich countries that developing countries should meet MRV (Measurable, Reportable and Verifiable) standards in their emissions-cutting efforts, and accept international inspections every two years.

"Of course mitigation actions by developing countries that receive international support should be subject to MRV." Huang said. "But developed countries should honor their commitment in the Kyoto Protocol to ensure their mitigation actions are also 'measurable, reportable and verifiable.'"

Pushing the climate negotiations forward will require a strong political will in the developed world, according to Huang. "But this has weakened since the financial crisis in 2008."

Progress can still be made in Cancun but the conference is unlikely to lead to a legally-binding treaty, Huang said.

"This conference won't be the end of the climate talks. China will continue to play an active and constructive role and we will work toward a new global deal to reduce carbon emissions next year in South Africa."

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