The Cancun Climate Summit: a Moderate Success

The Cancun Climate Summit is characterized as a moderate success that restored faith in the multilateral process following the Copenhagen summit. Key outcomes included the first official UN agreement to keep global temperature increases below 2°C, the recognition of voluntary emission reduction plans for 2020, and the establishment of financial mechanisms for developing countries, including a 30 billion dollar transfer for 2010-2012 and the creation of the Green Climate Fund. While the summit made progress on measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) and forest protection (REDD+), it left the decision on a second Kyoto Protocol period to the 2011 Durban summit. The authors attribute the success to the leadership of the Mexican government and the UNFCCC Executive Secretary.

• The Cancun Summit achieved a landmark official United Nations agreement to limit the global temperature increase to below 2°C, with a provision to consider a 1.5°C target if necessary.
• The summit officially recognized voluntary emission reduction plans for 2020 from approximately 80 countries, including major emitters like the US, China, India, Brazil, and the EU. However, the authors note that these commitments are insufficient to meet the 2°C goal, as the IPCC suggests a 25%-40% reduction is needed, while current plans may only achieve 11-16% compared to 1990 levels.
• Agreement was reached on Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) mechanisms, requiring countries to submit emissions inventories to an independent panel of experts. To accommodate China's position, the verification process is specified as being non-punitive and respectful of national sovereignty.
• Financial support for developing countries was formalized, including a transfer of 30 billion dollars for the 2010-2012 period and 100 billion dollars annually until 2020 for mitigation and adaptation, sourced from public and private funding. Additionally, the summit established the procedure for the Green Climate Fund, to be managed primarily by the World Bank.
• The summit advanced frameworks for forest protection and technology transfer, specifically through the REDD+ mechanism to reduce emissions from deforestation and degradation, and the creation of the Climate Technology Center and Network to connect low-carbon technology supply and demand.
• The summit failed to resolve the second period of the Kyoto Protocol, leaving the decision to the 2011 Durban summit. Some countries, including Japan and Russia, indicated they would not participate in a second phase without US involvement.
• The success of the summit is attributed to the active leadership of Mexican President Felipe CaldeÓron and Secretary for Foreign Affairs Patricia Espinosa, as well as the work of UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christina Figueras and Spanish Secretary of State Teresa Ribera.

APA

Galarraga, I., González-Eguino, M., & Markandya, A. (2011). The Cancun Climate Summit: a Moderate Success. Basque Centre for Climate Change. https://www.bc3research.org/h6T8Uy8Nm4gFs0O/201101141227582124737951.pdf

Chicago

Galarraga, Ibon, Mikel González-Eguino, and Anil Markandya. The Cancun Climate Summit: a Moderate Success. Basque Centre for Climate Change, 2011. https://www.bc3research.org/h6T8Uy8Nm4gFs0O/201101141227582124737951.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Galarraga |first1=Ibon |last2=González-Eguino |first2=Mikel |last3=Markandya |first3=Anil |title=The Cancun Climate Summit: a Moderate Success |publisher=Basque Centre for Climate Change |date=January 2011 |url=https://www.bc3research.org/h6T8Uy8Nm4gFs0O/201101141227582124737951.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{galarraga2011cancun, author = {Galarraga, Ibon and González-Eguino, Mikel and Markandya, Anil}, title = {{The Cancun Climate Summit: a Moderate Success}}, institution = {Basque Centre for Climate Change}, year = {2011}, month = jan, url = {https://www.bc3research.org/h6T8Uy8Nm4gFs0O/201101141227582124737951.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }