Presumably, these separations are needed because the ministers at a WTO summit decide on Very Important Matters. Vital national interests are affected; a reduced customs tariff line here or an intellectual property right clause there might determine where jobs are created or lost. Confidentiality is of utmost importance.

Perhaps climate change was conversely dismissed as an insignificant issue for countries once upon a time. After all, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is as soft as it gets; when countries flout it, nothing happens. But climate change is certainly no longer insignificant. Everybody knows we need to take action, and that the failure of the soft UNFCCC means that a binding agreement will be needed. Countries are positioning themselves for that next agreement here in Bali – and they know it will affect national interests heavily, for the better or for the worse.

Yet the whole atmosphere of the climate summit is totally different. The difference go beyond the nice little details such as the free bikes for participants to use between the venues where events are taking place, or the tradition of NGOs to throw their own party on the first Saturday (which would be way too cheerful for a WTO summit). No, I was absolutely startled by the fact that participants who do not represent any particular country are allowed to sit in as observers at the negotiating meetings. As long as official representatives do not object, they are even allowed to speak! That would be a truly mind-boggling thought in a WTO setting.

Just as climate change negotiations have gained significance, WTO summits have lost theirs. Custom duties are generally low anyway, so a further cut here or there does not change much. And, in any case, ministers cannot even find the smallest agreement within the WTO: The current round of negotiations at the WTO has been going on for six years and no one is willing to bet when they will eventually end.

The new “round” of climate negotiations, on the other hand, will hopefully be launched here in Bali and will have to be completed within two years in order for a new deal to be up and running when commitments under the Kyoto Protocol run out in 2012. Of course, no one can guarantee that it will happen. Governments will have to follow another approach than that usually applied on Very Important Matters. The behaviour of some governments in Bali is not reassuring. Perhaps the culture of openness and participation of civil society in the negotiations will help. And perhaps this culture is something that can spread to other international negotiations and unlock them as well? Interestingly, many of the world’s trade ministers are gathering these days in Bali for an informal meeting. Let’s hope they get inspired by the “climate culture” as well.