There is all but universal agreement that the negotiations will not end in a new protocol, or a binding extension of the old protocol.

ECONOMIST: The Copenhagen climate-change conference

An extension of the Protocol was supposed to be approved at the COP-15 in Copenhagen two years ago.

FORBES: Connect

Warsaw was refusing to sign the extension to the Kyoto climate protocol until it had a reassurance from the EU that it would receive flexible treatment on emissions cuts.

BBC: Science & Environment

Much trickier will be reconciling the demands of developing countries for an extension of the UN's Kyoto protocol with the determination of most developed ones to bin it.

ECONOMIST: Climate-change talks

The Kyoto Protocol emerged from the Doha COP-18 negotiations with an extension up to 2020, but much weakened with only a few developed countries agreeing to commit funds.

FORBES: BY DENNIS POSADAS