Citing the lack of a comprehensive climate bill in the U.S. Congress and a lack of consensus from industrialized nations, the United Nations indicates it doesn't expect any solid agreement to emerge from the December climate talks in Copenhagen.
Janos Pasztor, Director of the UN Secretary-general's Climate Change Support Team, said Oct. 26 "it's hard to say how far the conference will be able to go," reports Associated Press.
Pasztor said that while the Copenhagen talks may not produce a binding treaty, the UN still aims to push governments toward forging the content of an agreement.
Despite the sentiment of Pasztor, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he is "very encouraged" by actions from the Obama Administration toward curbing climate change.
Before Copenhagen, there will be one more round of "pre-negotiations" in Barcelona, Spain, from Nov. 2-6.
