The Copenhagen Accord is not a legally binding treaty and does not include everything that the UK was seeking. However, it gives international backing to a number of key commitments towards global action on climate change, and progress was made for the establishment of a REDD-plus mechanism to address global deforestation. These include:
- backing for an overall limit on global warming of 2 degrees;
- agreement that all countries need to take action on climate change;
- providing $30 billion of immediate short-term funding from developed countries over the next three years to kick-start emission reduction measures and help the poorest countries adapt to the impacts of climate change;
- indentification of a REDD-plus mechanism as an area for immediate action. Australia, France, Norway, UK and USA announced $3.5 billion of finance for REDD-plus in the 2010-12 period; and
- commitment by developed countries to work to provide long-term financing of $100 billion a year by 2020.
The Accord also provides for scrutiny to ensure that both developed and developing countries meet the emissions reductions targets
