The United Nations annual conference on climate change has opened in the Mexican resort city of Cancun.
The 12-day conference will focus on increasing funding for climate adaptation, protecting forests, and transferring clean technology to poorer countries.
Only a handful of world leaders are at this year’s conference, in contrast to last year’s summit in Copenhagen.
Those talks ended in failure, prompting delegates to play down expectations for this year’s conference in Cancun.
President Felipe Calderon of Mexico, whose country is hosting the conference, also appealed for common purpose.
“Climate change is already a reality for us,” he told delegates.
“During the next two weeks, the whole world will be looking at you. It would be a tragedy not to overcome the hurdle of national interests.”
