On December 11, 2010, the Cancún Agreements were finalized at the United Nations climate-change conference in Mexico. Developed and developing nations made a commitment to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases and to be more transparent in the process, marking a significant step toward implementation of the climate accord reached in 2009 in Copenhagen.

[The Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change,] [a]cknowledging that the largest share of historical global emissions of greenhouse gases originated in developed countries and that...developed country Parties must take the lead in combating climate change and the adverse effects thereof... takes note of quantified economy-wide emission reduction targets to be implemented by Parties...

Agrees that developing country Parties will take nationally appropriate mitigation actions...aimed at achieving a deviation in emissions relative to "business as usual" emissions in 2020...[and] takes note of nationally appropriate mitigation actions to be implemented by [developing country] Parties as communicated by them...

Developing countries...should also submit biennial update reports, containing updates of national greenhouse gas inventories...[and] conduct a process for international consultations and analysis of biennial reports...through analysis by technical experts...and through a facilitative sharing of views...

Jake says: Countries will now have to look each other in the eye and say, "I did X, Y, and Z and here is proof." If a country hasn't made the progress it needs to, there is now a formal way to shine a spotlight on those shortcomings. After all, we can't curb global warming if countries aren't really taking action to cut their pollution.

David says: This reflects a degree of consensus missing last year, when a handful of smaller countries blocked any formal recognition of emission-reduction commitments and brought the negotiation process to its knees. Mexico's skillful diplomacy achieved a consensus that was not reachable a year ago.

Shravya says: The Cancún Agreements were possible because the global community was able to make progress on transparency, a delicate and sensitive issue that had previously been a stumbling block. It was the developing world -- in particular, India -- that demonstrated real leadership and put the U.N. process back on track.

Alvin says: The biennial updates will detail actions taken to reduce emissions and address climate change. For developed countries, that includes financial and technological support for developing countries. This will help improve implementation while boosting international cooperation and trust.