ABSTRACT
After the surprising disappointment of the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP) meeting in Copenhagen in December 2009, the United Nations process lost much of its momentum. Governing climate change faded from the agendas of most global forums. Still in shock after Copenhagen, the Group of Eight (G8) dropped the subject from its priorities, particularly at the Muskoka Summit in 2010 and the Deauville Summit in 2011. However, the Group of 20 (G20) continued to become more involved in the issue, pulling back only slightly at Toronto in June 2010, then returning in full force with strong performances at Seoul in November 2010 and Cannes in November 2011. Leadership in global climate governance thus passed to the G20, with the emerging powers of Mexico and Korea as well as the established power of France at the head.
