U.S. climate envoy: Binding climate deal remains out of reach for now

The story quotes Stern as saying, “China, India and others are not prepared to take on that legally binding agreement yet.”

Bloomberg and other outlets caught up with Stern, the State’s Department’s top climate diplomat, during one of his visits to South Africa ahead of the summit.

The last big U.N. summit in Mexico late last year resulted in modest agreements on issues like deforestation and financing to help developing countries battle climate change and adapt to its effects.

Stern is looking to the South African summit to be heavy on implementation of those pacts.

From Forbes:

“Stern said he expected the focus in Durban to be on turning agreements made in Mexico into realities, including plans for a fund and a research center to develop nonpolluting technologies that could help impoverished African countries cope with climate change. Stern also said Durban could see progress on saving Africa’s forests and ensuring funds keep flowing to African and other vulnerable countries, including low-lying island nations that face being flooded out of existence.”