New Zealand diplomat Adrian Macey has been appointed to chair the world's climate change negotiations under the Kyoto agreement.
Mr Macey was named as the United Nation's chair of Kyoto Protocol negotiations, at its latest meeting in the Mexican city of Cancun.
Dr Macey says a big step forward in recent talks has been allowing developing countries to get revenue as incentives to protect their forests.
However he says it will be a challenge to get agreement at the next climate change meeting in South Africa.
