KPMG offers a preview of the 2012 COP 18 climate talks in Doha, Qatar; KPMG's member firms revisit where the international political process on climate change got to in 2011 in Durban, South Africa.

We also summarize what is on the table at Doha through the lens of what is important and relevant to business.

In this issue of Sustainable Insight, Will Doha Deliver a Deal?, KPMG International offers a preview of the 2012 COP 18 climate talks in Doha, Qatar.

The build-up to COP 18, has been low-key and low on expectations. In that context, KPMG's member firms revisit where the international political process on climate change got to in 2011 in Durban, South Africa. We also summarize what is on the table at Doha through the lens of what is important and relevant to business.

There are three key "gaps" in climate policy that must be filled to help the private sector have the confidence to invest in climate solutions at scale – the Kyoto gap, the ambition gap and the finance gap. It is these gaps that COP 18 must start to tackle – and given the interconnected nature of the process, it must tackle them all at the same time.

In an ideal world, COP 18 would decide the outcomes that COP 21 in 2015 needs to decide, giving negotiators two years to put in place an agreement. It seems unlikely, yet as recently as last year, the entire structure of multilateral climate negotiations was under threat so, while much remains to be done, the fact that we are now talking about filling the gaps in the structure is a sign of real progress.

Full report:

www.kpmg.com/Global/en/IssuesAndInsights/ArticlesPublications/sustainable-insight/Documents/cop-18-perview.pdf