U.N. climate change conference under way

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- A work group that will determine elements of a plan to address climate issues has been created by delegates to the U.N. climate change conference in Bali.

The group, open to all countries at the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, will present its decisions when negotiations on a post-Kyoto Protocol climate change document begin during the second week of the conference, the United Nations said Tuesday in a news release issued in New York. The Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012.

Yvo de Boer, U.N. Climate Change executive secretary, said establishing a group was "an encouraging signal" that established a mechanism to reach an agreement on climate change issues.

He said the group will decide which topics will be negotiated and when those negotiations will end. Australia and South Africa will lead the discussions.

Countries also agreed Tuesday on a mechanism that could hasten the transfer of technology developing countries say they consider essential for addressing climate change.