The Fifteenth Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has released its Draft Decision (thanks to the ever-excellent Bay Buzz for the link, and for some interesting commentary, including this from Louis Chambers  a member of the New Zealand Youth Delegation).

As you'd expect (and the title's a big hint here), it's not an easy read. So, knowing how short of time everyone is at this time of year, we've taken the liberty of translating the proposed Accord's 12 clauses.

1. Man-made climate change is a problem. Something needs to be done. It's not going to be easy, so we need to work together on it. Some countries are going to find it harder than others.

2. Emissions must be reduced, but it's not that simple and could take a while for us to find a way to all work together on it.

3. We really need to work together on this. It's going to be hard for some countries to do much, so the other countries need to help them.

4. Some countries will write down what they are going to do to reduce emissions and hand that over to the UN, who will be checking to see they do it.

5. Other countries will also write down what they're going to do for the UN, but they won't be checked as strictly, and will concentrate more on mitigation than reduction.

6. Trees are good, cutting down trees is not so good, and we need to find a way to encourage people to plant trees and not cut them down.

7. Mitigation is good, and needs to be encouraged.

8. Money is a good way to encourage mitigation. We'll be needing a fair bit, ($US100 billion per year) and we'll set up a fund to administer it.

9. A High Level Panel will look around for the money.

10. The collection and distribution of the money will be controlled by the parties to the Convention, who will also …

11. “establish a Technology Mechanism to accelerate technology development and transfer” (sorry – that one defied translation).

12. Could someone please have a look and let us know what they think about getting these ideas under way some time in the next five years.

So, that's it then. All sorted (with apologies to Tui).

However, while European politicians and environmentalists express disappointment ,  Aussie commentator Paul Gilding says it was never going to turn out any other way, and furthermore: it doesn't really matter

Happy Christmas!