The head of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Ivo de Boer, said this week that there have been encouraging developments recent climate change negotiations. His comments come as the first “negotiating text” for the UN’s December climate change conference to be held in Copenhagen is published on the UNFCCC website.

He said the 53-page document marked “an important point on our road” and could “serve as a basis for governments to start drafting… an agreed outcome” to the Copenhagen conference, which is in less than 200 days.