"Just before the Mexican dawn on Saturday, the UN got its mojo back in guiding global action on pollution and climate change," writes the Climate Institute's Erwin Jackson in Crikey today.

"At 3pm on Friday the meeting hung in the balance. The new text to capture discussions over the previous two weeks had been due for release at 8am. A silent hush and tension had fallen over the conference as the Mexican presidency worked behind the scenes with senior negotiators to finalise an agreement that could be the basis of a decision in Cancun. At three the text was released and at 6pm the chair of the meeting, Mexican foreign minister Patricia Espinosa, entered the plenary hall and was greeted by thunderous applause and a three-minute standing ovation. This moment defined the outcome in Cancun."