It seems next to impossible for the international community to agree before the end of 2009, in just 12 months, on a meaningful package for mitigating climate change. The odds speak against.
First, it has taken the EU 12 months from proposals to adopting legislation, but only thanks to formidable preparative efforts by the EU Commission [...]

After its agreement on December 12, the EU might wish to sit back and say: mission accomplished. That would be a fatal error.
The real mission only starts now. The EU has to motivate the rest of the world to also engage in the battle against climate change.
The preparatory meetings for the decisive international climate conference [...]