It's nearly midnight here at the climate summit in Cancun and there is still no indication of the likely outcome. Negotiators remain behind closed doors while the rest of us are generally milling around in expectation that the plenary sesssion will start any time now. The chairman of this event had committed to closing the talks promptly at 6pm, but that has never happened in the past, and this is Latin America.
Talking to people here, I do sense a growing feeling of optimism that at least something positive can be agreed so as to keep the process moving forward. Last year in Copenhagen, the summit ended in miserable deadlock with everyone leaving with a deep feeling of despondancy. We are all just hoping and praying now that something more upbeat will emerge.
It's going to be a long night as we await the results of these critical negotiations. With 13 years having passed since the historic first agreement on climate change mitigation reached in Kyoto, I am keeping my fingers and toes firmly crossed that good sense and goodwill will prevail. The future health of Planet Earth is in the balance tonight.
Grandpa Jonathan
Cancun, Mexico
