Rich countries are on their way to meeting the emissions reduction targets set by the Kyoto Protocol, the head of the UN Climate Change Secretariat, Richard Kinley, said during a Bonn press conference on Thursday.

But they still have a tough road ahead of them. The flexible mechanisms outlined in the treaty will help developed countries meet their goal of reducing emissions below 1990 levels, Kinley said.

UN scientists pointed out though that most of the emission reductions so far came after the Soviet Union collapsed and large industries shut down. They said that if measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions aren't stepped-up, the world will see an increase of up to 10 percent above 1990 levels in the next five years.

100 ministers expected in Montreal

The information was outlined in a new UN publication of key greenhouse gas data that will be presented at the upcoming climate change conference in Montreal. The gathering could be the largest of its kind, and it's the first since the Kyoto Protocol came into effect.

"One might say ... that one of the big objectives of the ministers will be -- at least for most of them -- to celebrate the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol," Kinley commented.

But the UN officials dashed hopes that new targets would be set at Montreal for the period after Kyoto finishes.

"The issue at Montreal is basically to … start preparing for what we call the future commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol," said the Halldor Thorgeirsson, a coordinator of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. "The first one already being established is between 2008 and 2012. There is then the question of what should happen after 2012 and that discussion will start in Montreal."

As the effects of climate change are felt around the world, governments need to stop thinking about how they can prevent climate change and start working on how to mitigate the damage it will cause, the UN scientists said. Thus, one of the buzz words at Montreal will be adaptation -- helping nations cope with and adapt to the effects of global warming.

US, Australian participation needed

It also remains to be seen whether the world's largest polluter, the United States, and Australia -- which both have not ratified the Kyoto Protocol -- will be willing to commit themselves to binding targets in any new agreement. Thorgeirsson stressed that their participation in developing new, cleaner technologies would be a key issue in Montreal.

"Basically the ability of the atmosphere to capture carbon dioxide is limited," Thorgeirsson said. "And if you -- through carbon trading and through emission limits -- give a price signal to industries they then will apply the best available technology."

"So this is first a question of making sure that the technology is available. That's why the efforts of the United States are extremely important, since they are leaders in many of the technology developments."