The countdown is running. The last few days gave only little reason to cheer and to expect the necessary achievements. Decision makers have now arrived in Copenhagen, and are trying to commit to binding resolutions.

Some of the major issues are:

Greenhouse Gas EmissionsGreenhouse gas emissions cause dangerous anthropogenic climate change. Emissions include CO2, fluoridated gases, methane which are emitted by human activity such as deforestation and burning fossil fuels, and water vapour.: Environmentalists advise richer countries should reduce their greenhouse gasGreenhouse gas emissions cause dangerous anthropogenic climate change. Emissions include CO2, fluoridated gases, methane which are emitted by human activity such as deforestation and burning fossil fuels, and water vapour. emissionsEmissions of greenhouse gases, greenhouse gas precursors, and aerosols associated with human activities, including the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, land-use changes, livestock, fertilisation, etc. (IPCC) by 40 % or more by 2020, compared with 1990 levels, to avoid serious climateClimate is typically defined as the average weather (or more rigorously a statistical description of the average in terms of the mean and variability) over a period of time, usually 30 years. These quantities are most often surface variables such as temperature, precipitation, and wind. Climate ... damage. While the EU has already pledged 20%, with the possibility of 30%, the US has  so far offered about 4%.

Aid for poor nations to cope with the impacts of Climate ChangeClimate change is a lasting change in weather patterns over long periods of time. It can be a natural phenomena and and has occurred on Earth even before people inhabited it. Quite different is a current situation that is also referred to as climate change, anthropogenic climate change, or .... Billions of dollars will be needed every year, and developing nations are trying to establish stable revenue sources for climate aid.

Protection of ForestsForestry is the management and care of woods, including fellings and plantation of new trees.: At the moment there is no specific money planned for the protection of forests, and to reduce illegal lumbering.  Experts estimate that deforestation accounts for up to 20% of green gas emissions worldwide.

Monitoring of pledges: Some kind of international verification of emissions, even without penalties, is considered a potential intrusions on their sovereignty by some developing countries such as China or India.

Legal framework: Several countries do not want to be bound to international treaties to carry out their pledges. The level of obligation might therefore vary, all the way to “voluntary goals”.

All the different interests at stake at the conference led to an “unexpected stop” on Wednesday, according to Yvo de Boer, the UNThe United Nations Organization (UNO) is an international organization that focuses on facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace. It was founded in 1945 after World War II to replace ...’s top climate official. This has led to worries about the outcome of the conference as a whole. De Boer said that it’s still possible to become a success, but all depended on if, and how, the world’s leaders will deal with the unsolved issue on Thursday and Friday.
Some positive input came from Japan; it pledges a total of 15 billion US dollars for climate aid for developing countries up to 2012. Condition is the effective outcome and accord of the summit in Copenhagen. This offer is more generous than the EU’s, and might promote others to pledge more. Then John Kerry, Chair of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that the American Congress will finally pass a climate change bill in 2010. Again condition is the successful conclusion of the conference.

Another key requirement  John Kerry  mentioned is that China, India and other developing countries should meet the US demand for accountability on their emissionEmissions of greenhouse gases, greenhouse gas precursors, and aerosols associated with human activities, including the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, land-use changes, livestock, fertilisation, etc. (IPCC) cuts. This is one of the mayor issues of dispute. The Americans fear disadvantage regarding production if some countries don’t participate with the same effort as others. US AgricultureCultivation of the ground and harvesting of crops and handling of livestock, the primary function is the provision of food and feed. Secretary Tom Vilsack also had a pledge to make:  the US, Australia, France, Japan, Norway and Britain will give 3.5 billion US dollars over the next three years to a program aimed at protecting rainforests. French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his Indonesian counterpart, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, also  agree on the importance of protecting rainforests, and are  supporting a plan for fighting deforestation at the summit.

193 nations are trying to negotiate the new pact to save the world as we know it. The next few hours are incredibly important, and millions of people all over the world hope that those in charge make the right decisions.