NUSA DUA, Indonesia -- As the 13th meeting of the parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) enters its second and final week, there has been mixed progress on the resort island of Bali, where representatives of some 190 countries have converged to plot a roadmap for mitigating global warming when the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012. The second week coincides with the arrival of national delegations' ministers and is meant to seal the deals negotiated by technicians during the first week. However, although most UNFCCC observers would agree with Emil Salim, head of the host Indonesian delegation, who reported "no deadlocks" and said "the political climate is better than expected," it is fair to say that, on crucial issues, positions between the various blocks remain very distant.
Some Progress, but a Tough Week Remains at Bali Climate Conference
