The 12th UN Climate Change Conference ended here last night by deciding that action will be taken to cut the greenhouse gas emissions blamed for warming the world - but without specifying precisely when or by how much, writes Frank McDonald in Nairobi.
Ministers, diplomats and senior officials representing countries that ratified the Kyoto Protocol agreed on a "work plan" to agree on further reductions. A comprehensive review is to "take place" in 2008, and the EU wants it completed by 2009 at the latest.
The review is to be based on the best scientific evidence, notably the forthcoming Fourth Assessment Report of the UN's Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change - due next February - which is expected to underline the real dangers facing the planet.
However, in deference to fears among developing countries that Kyoto could be foisted on them, it was specified that the review "shall not lead to new commitments for any party".
A Russian proposal to permit "voluntary commitments" remains on the table.
The European Union, though prepared to go much further on the issue of emissions cuts, was pleased that a new timetable had been laid down and also that agreement was reached on the framework for an "adaptation fund" to help poorer countries to cope.
"The conference has delivered on its promise to support the needs of developing countries," said Kenyan environment minister Kivutha Kibwana, who presided at its plenary sessions. He called this the result of "the positive spirit of Nairobi".
Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, said the fact that there was now a "concrete work plan" meant that parties could move ahead to address the level of emission reductions and how to achieve them.
But the British and German environment ministers said "greater urgency must be injected into international climate change negotiations if the world is to face up to its responsibilities in tackling climate change" - through cutting emissions by at least 50 per cent.
In a joint statement, David Miliband and Sigmar Gabriel said developed countries which ratified Kyoto now had "the opportunity to show their leadership" in addressing the issue by establishing a "substantial work plan for arriving at new reduction targets".
They said Britain and Germany "are determined to work together to ensure that negotiations on a future framework [ for reducing greenhouse gas emissions] are concluded by 2009 so that there is no gap" after the current Kyoto commitment period ends in 2012.
EU environment commissioner Stavros Dimas said there was a new mood among delegates at the conference about the urgency of dealing with climate change because it was "already happening". The British government's Stern Review had also changed minds.
Minister for the Environment Dick Roche said he was "very pleased with the outcome . . . We now have the first signpost for a review". This represented "a considerable success for the [ Finnish] EU presidency", as did the deal reached on assisting poorer countries.
But Greenpeace's Steve Sawyer, a veteran at the UN climate talks, said a "dramatic increase in political will" was needed, involving heads of government rather than just ministers, diplomats and officials. "The outside world is screaming for rapid action," he added.
Hans Verolme of the World Wide Fund for Nature Conservation said next year's climate change conference - to be held in Bali, Indonesia - would be "the last chance to keep the planet safe", and the process would "get a push from public opinion everywhere".