Developing nations joined forces to support a binding agreement proposed by the EU to combat global warming, but disagreements were still evident in draft agreements at the UN climate talks. The EU's plan aims for a new deal by 2015 that would require significant reductions in emissions from major polluters, with the agreement coming into effect within five years. EU Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard noted that Brazil and South Africa, despite being major polluters, now back the idea of binding cuts to greenhouse gas emissions. However, she expressed uncertainty about reaching an agreement before the talks' deadline, emphasizing that the success of the Durban talks relies on a few countries that have not yet committed to the EU's roadmap. The speaker believes that if there is no progress by 4 o'clock this morning, a deal in Durban is unlikely. A draft text has been proposed that could legally require over 30 industrialized countries to reduce emissions under a new phase of the Kyoto Protocol. However, this text may only be accepted if all major emitters, including China, India, and the US, agree to legal targets in a separate agreement. Many climate experts are skeptical of this second text, as it only mentions a "legal framework" and falls short of the legally binding treaty demanded by the EU and other developing countries. Rene Orellana, the chief negotiator for Bolivia and part of the ALBA group of Latin American nations, expressed concern about the lack of a legal regime to control emissions from big emitters, such as developed countries. He warned that without such a framework, there would be no control over what these countries do. Orellana emphasized the importance of having a regime in place to enforce compliance with emissions reductions, stating that without it, it would not only mean the end of the Kyoto Protocol but also the destruction of the planet. Critics also raised concerns about the unclear timelines and depth of emissions cuts in the proposed texts. The EU's approach at the conference is to form a coalition of willing countries to put pressure on the top three carbon emitters - China, the United States, and India - to commit to mandatory cuts in carbon emissions. These countries are not obligated by the Kyoto Protocol. The US insists on binding cuts only if all major polluters agree to similar commitments. China and India argue that it would be unjust to require them to make cuts at the same level as developed nations, which have historically been the main contributors to global warming. Many diplomats anticipate that the climate talks in Durban will likely result in a weak political agreement, with countries agreeing to initiate discussions on a new system of mandatory cuts in greenhouse gases. According to them, anything less than achieving change would be disastrous. Recent U.N. reports indicate that time is running out to address the effects of a warming planet, which will exacerbate droughts, floods, crop failures, and sea level rise to the point of threatening extinction for several island nations. The Durban talks, scheduled to conclude on Friday, are anticipated to continue late into the night and possibly into Saturday. Delegates from small islands and African countries expressed frustration with the prolonged negotiations, joining green groups in a protest outside the main negotiating room. "You must rescue us, it is not acceptable for the islands to submerge. We deserve to exist, you do not have the authority to determine our fate. We will need to be rescued," stated Mohamed Aslam, the climate negotiator for Maldives. Karl Hood, the foreign minister of Grenada and chairman of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), consisting of 43 nations most affected by climate change, expressed frustration that the discussions were not addressing the core climate issues. "We are getting caught up in minor matters instead of focusing on the significant challenges, such as prioritizing adaptation over mitigation," he remarked. I believe that Durban could potentially be the downfall of UN climate negotiations.