After going into two days of overtime at the United Nations COP20 climate talks in Lima, Peru, nations have finally agreed to a framework on how countries should tackle climate change.  Environmental groups are already criticizing the deal as a weak compromise.

“As a text it’s not perfect, but it includes the positions of the parties,” said the summit’s chair, Peruvian environment minister Manuel Pulgar-Vidal.  194 countries didn’t get out with everything they wanted, but everyone got something out of the agreement (.pdf link).  The four-page document asks countries to submit national plans to tackle global warming early next year to form the basis of a new global agreement due at a summit in Paris at the end of 2015. 

A dispute between rich and poor nations delayed the deal.  This was solved by specifying that the wealthy nations must lead the way in making cuts in emissions.  The rich countries are also agreeing to provide financial support to developing countries.