The U.N. has hit a roadblock for further climate change talks, making an already slow-moving process even more difficult.
The most recent talks in Germany were halted by a request from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus to review the decision-making system on a process that has already been going on for over 20 years, according to ABC News via the Associated Press.
Others are concerned about the decision-making process as well, but they are more worried about slowing down actions that need to be taken immediately. Decisions made in U.N. climate discussions are supposed to be "taken into account," but it is yet to be clarified what exactly this means.
"If we're not careful, it could collapse the whole system," said Ronald Jumeau, a delegate from the Seychelles.
The missing clarification has been a problem; there have been debates lasting all night with certain representative's objections still getting trampled on.
"Our process is very sick," Russian climate envoy Oleg Shamanov told delegates. "We have constant problems with procedural matters and we are constantly forced to resolve problems in circumstances of haste and apprehension and anxiety."
The U.N. has had a history of allowing procedural issues interfere with the task at stake, in this case saving the world from climate changes which cause extreme weather and rising sea levels.
Scientists have said if action is not taken soon, the results could be catastrophic. Carbon emissions are growing every year as rich countries expand their economies and don't cut back on emissions.
Negotiators said some progress was made towards the global climate deal expected to come into play in 2015, but Russia's procedural concerns will have to be addressed before any further steps are taken. There will be another climate meeting at the end of this year.
"Time is very short," European Union delegate David Walsh said. "We can't have this kind of procedural difficulties that are wasting what is a limited and pressurized timeframe to get us to a deal."
