THE annual United Nations climate summit of 194 nations, scheduled to conclude last Friday in Peru, finally finished in overtime on Sunday. The modest agreement that was reached averted the prospect that the talks could collapse and keeps the process alive.

However, while a deal was concluded, including agreement for the first time that all countries (not just developed states) must cut greenhouse gas emissions, many of the hard issues have been deferred. With the prospects for a comprehensive, global treaty with the required ambition remaining uncertain in 2015, there is growing consensus that a better and faster response to climate change is badly needed.

This is especially so when the science and physical impacts of global warming are telling us that the urgency to act is increasing. In the words of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon this week, "our collective action (still) does not match our common responsibilities".