Road map finally adopted at Bali

After two weeks of negotiations, a road map charting the course for a new negotiating process to be concluded by 2009 and to lead a post 2012 international agreement on climate change was finally agreed in the small hours of Saturday morning.

But while some are claiming the conference a success, there are others disappointed by the lack of specific emissions targets in the agreement with the US only agreeing to sign once specific targets were dropped from the formal text.

The EU had led the charge for text to be included that specified industrialised nations should make emission cuts of 25-40 per cent by 2020, figures outlined in the IPCC's fourth assessment report.

But a group containing the US, Canada and Japan refused to sign unless specific targets were dropped. Instead of specific figures, the text of the agreement refers to "deep cuts in emissions will be needed to avoid the worst effects of climate change".

Negotiations will now continue to complete the road map by 2009.

These upcoming negotiations will involve: taking action to adapt to the negative consequences of climate change, such as droughts and floods; devising ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; finding ways to deploy climate-friendly technology; and financing adaptation and mitigation measures.

Participating countries have also agreed on a series of steps that can be taken immediately to strengthen their commitment to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), such as combating deforestation in poor countries, the scaling up of investment in green technology and enhancing funding for adaptation measures.

In a statement UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called the road map a " pivotal first step toward an agreement that can address the threat of climate change, the defining challenge of our time," adding that the agreement had met all the benchmarks for success he set out when the Conference began.

Four major UNFCCC meetings to implement the Bali Roadmap are planned for next year, with the first to be held in either March or April.

The negotiations process is scheduled to conclude in 2009 at a major summit in Copenhagen.