Mexico is using its influence as host of the United Nations climate conference in Cancun, to push for a binding deal on carbon emissions among leaders gathered from around the globe.

The Mexican pavilion in Cancunmesse, the convention center of the Cancun Climate change talks.

Luis Alfonso de Alba, Mexico’s climate envoy said that, as host, Mexico is doing all it can to forge a comprehensive agenda in pursuit of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

"Mexico wants to contribute with its own efforts to reduce emissions and to pay attention to the most vulnerable places in the country” he said. “But the problem is global. There is only one atmosphere and what one or even a few countries do will not be enough - we need the intentional community to be committed."

Key issues at the conference such as agreeing a second round of emissions cuts agreed under the Kyoto Protocol have aroused controversy in the past two days. On Tuesday Japan announced that it would not support an extension of the Kyoto accord “on any conditions or under any circumstances.”

“The big challenge is not to just capture in a United Nations document the commitments and actions of developed and developing countries, but to find a way to increase these and find a mechanism to keep going,” said Alba.

Alba said Kyoto Protocol covered at most 28 percent of global emissions and had goals that barely surpassed 5 percent of global emissions.

“In Cancun we are hoping to come out with a package of emissions reductions, if what countries have announced is made concrete, it will surpass 18 or 19 percent on a global level.” He said.