Qatar Will Host 2012 Climate Talks

Qatar will host the 2012 round of UN talks tasked with beating back the mounting threat of global warming, the UN's top climate official said Tuesday.

South Korea, also in the hunt to organise the UNFCCC's 18th meeting, had to settle for hosting the preparatory gathering of ministers that traditionally takes place just beforehand.

UNFCCC executive secretary Christiana Figueres noted that it was the first time in 17 years of often difficult talks that two countries had offered to host the event, saying it was "a sign of trust that the parties had (in) the UN system."

The announcement was made at the UN Climate Change Conference in Durban, following agreement among the Asian Group of countries.

"I congratulate these two countries on their commitment to work together in the lead up to and during the COP. Both countries are leaders in their own ways, and can generate strong synergies to put the world on a more climate-safe path," said Figueres.

The State of Qatar and the Republic of Korea will make joint efforts to globally promote and implement the green growth agenda at and in the run-up to the conference.

The Republic of Korea has championed the concept of the "green economy," which links green growth to sustainable development and poverty eradication, and will be a central issue under discussion at the Rio+20 summit to be held in June next year in Rio de Janeiro.

The State of Qatar, as one of the world's main energy exporters, expressed its eagerness in Durban to secure progress in the UN climate change negotiations, and support to the endeavours of developing countries, including small island developing States, in adapting to the inevitable effects of climate change.

The UNFCCC's annual Conferences of the Parties are rotated between the five UN regional groups, with the African Group this year hosting COP 17 in Durban, South Africa.