Delegates from nearly 200 countries are gathering in Mexico's Cancun, for talks on climate change.

 

The latest meeting is expected to provide answers to some key issues, and act as a stepping-stone to achieving broader agreement next year.

Michelle Begue, Cancun, Mexico, said, "Thousands of participants from Government agencies, non governmental organizations, business and research institutions from more than 190 countries are giving their input on how to stop climate change."

The Kyoto Protocol, the only legally binding international law on capping green house gas emissions, is set to expire in 2012.Several key players from the convention have come out saying they do not expect a binding deal to replace it this year. However, the belief is Cancun can provide an opportunity for international negotiators to progress on smaller key issues.

Agastya Muthama, NGO, said, "After the massive collapse of COP 15 Copenhagen, COP 16 should be more of a stepping stone to COP 17 in south africa and for that to happen they have to lay down a couple of basic steps at the LCA and KP tracks, that is the long term cooperation and the Kyoto Protocol tracks, on things that they can actually achieve this time that I think are very important."