Foundation for a low-carbon future: essential elements of a Copenhagen agreement
This brief paper, identifies key elements for a successful and possible outcome in Copenhagen. These include a clear set of follow-on negotiations to complete a legally binding agreement. This process could be achieved in two stages - at continuation of the COP 15 Copenhagen session six months later (a so-called COP 15 bis), and at the next full conference of the UNFCCC parties (COP 16) in Mexico in December 2010. Putting in place a clear process to agree upon the final legally binding instrument(s) in one negotiation track will be key to success. After two years of negotiations, many of the elements required for an effective post-2012 climate agreement are already clear.