Cancun climate talks end

On Dec. 10, more than 190 countries wrapped up the 2010 climate talks under the United Nations Framework on Climate Change in Cancun, Mexico, and world leaders are calling the conference a step in the right direction, according to a UNFCC press release and other news reports.

Last year, in Copenhagen, Denmark, countries were unable to agree on a way to cut carbon emissions. This year, all countries agreed to take necessary steps to keep temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius, marking the first-ever agreement by countries to cut emissions under the UN.

Moreover, the more than 80 countries that volunteered to cut emissions at the Copenhagen summit—including the United States, European Union and China—have now formally agreed to those cuts.

For more on this year’s talks, visit http://unfccc.int/2860.php.