U.N. officials agree they must craft a post-Kyoto framework that wins Washington's approval.

NPR: Climate Experts Mull Payment to Stop Deforestation

These countries have produced their own draft document, which would absorb any new agreement into the existing Kyoto framework.

ECONOMIST: The Copenhagen climate talks

"Ms Whitman was very positive about climate change being a global issue, about the scientific evidence and that the Kyoto framework was something they should work within, " a senior British official said.

CNN: Climate talks secure U.S. support

Frankly, a Kyoto-type framework--one with global quantitative emissions targets allocated among countries--that meets the above conditions is not feasible.

FORBES: Carbon Prices, Not Quotas

The United States will work with other nations to establish a new framework on greenhouse gas emissions for when the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012.

NPR: President Bush's Remarks on the World Agenda

However, some industry experts say the expiration of the Kyoto treaty in 2012, by disbanding the separate United Nations emissions trading framework, could potentially create more impetus for innovative approaches such as Mr. Palella's Carbon Manna.

WSJ: Unlocking Africa's Energy Potential

Conference was intended to produce a framework agreement for climate change mitigation beyond 2012, as a successor to the Kyoto Protocol.

FORBES: Climate Friend or Foe? China in Copenhagen