COP18 climate talks kick off in Doha

Approximately 200 nations were represented at the launch of the COP18 United Nations climate talks in Doha on Monday and were reminded of the urgency in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The 18th United Nations climate change conference comes amid a glut of scientific warnings that extreme weather events like hurricane Sandy will become commonplace if mitigation efforts are not adopted successfully.

Experts have reported that existing greenhouse gas mitigation agreements are not nearly enough to limit warming to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels; the level at which scientists believe we may still avoid the most serious effects of climate damage.

Topping the agenda in Doha is the launch of a followup commitment period for the Kyoto Protocol, the world's only binding pact for curbing emissions which is due to expire on December 31. The current agreement binds about 40 rich nations and the EU to an average five per cent greenhouse gas reduction from 1990 levels.

However, the world's biggest emitters, the USA and China, have not taken on mitigation limits under the deal.

Negotiators and officials seeking to refresh the Kyoto commitment period disagree on its duration and targets.

The EU, Australia and some small Kyoto members have said they would take on commitments in a second period, but New Zealand, Canada, Japan and Russia will not.

In Doha, delegates will also draft a work plan for a new global climate deal that must enter into force by 2020.

Negotiators, to be joined in the last four days by cabinet ministers from more than 100 nations, will be under pressure to raise pre-2020 emission reduction targets.

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said this week that the ambition of keeping global warming in check has moved further out of reach and the world could be heading for an average 3-5 degree C temperature rise this century barring urgent action.

The World Bank issued a stark warning as it said a planet that is four degrees warmer would see coastal areas seriously effected and small islands washed away, food production significantly reduced, species eradicated, frequent heat waves and high-intensity cyclones, and an increase in the prominence of diseases worldwide.

UN climate chief Christiana Figueres urged negotiators to ensure that ambitions are raised and has called for greater urgency.