The 14th conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change concluded today in Poznan, Poland. After 12 days of negotiations the groundwork is laid out for important goals to be reached in hopes of ratifying a significant climate treaty at next year's convention in Copenhagen.

The way is "now clear" to sign a global climate agreement in 2009, Live Earth Co-founder and Nobel-winning former U.S. Vice President Al Gore said in an inspiring plenary presentation to the conference (see video below).

Among the promising outcomes of the conference was an agreement by both ministers and delegates that around 60 million dollars should be disbursed to developing countries for projects to reduce greenhouse gases.

"This is a sign of developed countries' resolve and courage that the world has been waiting for in Poznan! It shows the world that ambitious emission reduction goals by 2020 are in line with moving economic recovery in a green direction," said Executive secretary, Yvo de Boer. "This will contribute to propelling the world towards a strong, ambitious and ratifiable outcome in Copenhagen in 2009."

The European Union took great strides with a pact to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020, based on 1990 levels. "The EU today said, 'yes, we can and here's how,'" said U.S. Senator John Kerry, president-elect Barack Obama's point man at the talks.

Click here to view archived video webcasts of the conference.
Click here for more from the UNFCCC website.
Visit OneClimate.net for full coverage from Poznan.