The United Nations Environmental Programme (Unep) says developed
countries are "stuck on weaker, conditional pledges" and that
the greenhouse gas emissions targets they have set themselves
are "riddled with loopholes".  COP-17, the Durban-hosted UN
climate change negotiations, moved into work mode on Tuesday
after the pomp and circumstance of Monday's opening ceremony.
Talks president Maite Nkoana-Mashobane, South Africa's
international relations and co-operation minister, said
negotiators had been urged to finalise this week all but the
political issues that have to be left to the ministers and heads
of state that arrive next week.  Unep said the "rather large
elephant in the room" at the COP-17 was the ever-widening gap
between the action needed to stem global warming and what is on
the table this year.  Scientists agree that average global
warming should be kept below 2° C to avoid damaging climate
change.  An updated Unep Emissions Gap Report, released last
week, concludes that by 2020, global emissions