UN Climate Change talks end

Officials and world leaders have left South Africa after 12 days of climate change talks and discussions about reducing greenhouse gases and improving sustainability.

The UK has called the UN's 17th Conference of the Parties (COP 17) a success.

Around 15,000 delegates attended the conference which ended on the 9th December.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was set up to stop global temperatures rising above dangerous levels as a result of man made emissions. 

The ultimate aim is stop temperatures rising more than 2C by cutting greenhouse gases by 50% by 2050.

This conference aimed to secure a global climate agreement and to finalise agreements laid out in Cancun, Mexico last year.  One of the aims was to help poorer countries protect their forests which in turn will help minimise the impacts of climate change.

Why the UK thinks the Durban talks were a success.

Why Canada has turned its back on the UN talks.

The Daily Telegraph has a simple guide to the Durban talks.

The official UN Climate Change website.