perspective World Climate Summit in Doha(COP 18) Objectives, Developments and Challenges Nina Netzer November 2012 n The upcoming Climate Change Conference in Doha marks a turning point in inter­national climate policy: for the first time, the previously divided negotiation strands, which differentiated between industrialised and developing countries, are to be merged into a new global agreement for all countries. In view of the deep ideologi­cal divisions and conflicts of interest, which characterised the negotiations in recent years, this is a remarkable compromise – now it has to be designed in a just and equitable manner and a balance of interests between the different stakeholders has to be found. n A central question is, therefore, how a new global agreement for all countries should be formulated, so that on the one hand it holds all major greenhouse gas emitters to their obligations, and on the other hand, guarantees that the contributions of the contract parties vary based on their respective economic ability and historical contribution to climate change. In order to find a fair compromise, poorer countries and island states in particular have to be adequately supported financially and tech­nologically. n Whether a satisfactory result can be found in Doha, depends largely on whether or not there are brave pioneers and new alliances campaigning for progress. Thereby, the host country Qatar, among others, could play an important role, which could secure an end to the obstructionist policies of the oil exporting countries. However, Germany and the EU also have an important function: a unified and ambitious Euro­pean approach can contribute to the renewal of the progressive Durban Alliance with the least developed countries, island states, as well as the African negotiating group.