kyoto

‘Kyoto's failure haunts new U.N. talks.' ‘Time to ditch Kyoto.' These recent headlines have found a ready audience among those who have never liked the treaty.

But has Kyoto really proved a let down? Or is it performing as advertised when it was agreed with great fanfare in 1997, and then ratified a little over 7 painful years later?

Today, within minutes of taking office, Kevin Rudd - new Australian PM - ratified Kyoto.

His timing was perfect. Official business had just begun here in Bali and the way was cleared for Howard Bamsey, Australia's lead negotiator, to ring the glad tidings in the opening plenary. Delegates were ecstatic. It was, said Yvo de Boer, the UN's top official on climate, 'an emotional and spontaneous reaction.'