Almost 200 countries are gathered for the latest meeting of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
But already there is growing tension over which countries should be pulling their weight when it comes to carbon emissions.
As one of the richest countries in the world per head with the highest carbon footprint at 43t of CO2 per capita, Qatar itself is expected to lead the way.
The oil and gas rich nation has seen emissions rise by 600 per cent since 1990, largely as a result of energy-intensive air conditioning and desalination and burning off gas flares.
Between 2010 and 2011 emissions rose a further 12 per cent but Qatar has no targets for cutting emissions.
The international community is looking to such developing’ nations that have now achieved a comfortable lifestyle for their citizens to lead the way in cutting carbon.
Other rich Middle Eastern states including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates may also make statements.
Already there have been a number of announcements on sourcing more power from renewable energy, especially solar in the desert nations.
Firms have been asked to tender for a 1,800 megawatt (MW) solar energy plant in 2014 costing between $10-20 billion in Qatar.
Of six mosques contacted by The Associated Press in Doha, only one included an environmental message in last week’s Friday prayers, telling those in attendance to plant trees, shun extravagance and conserve water and electricity.
Fazlun Khalid, founder of the U.K.-based Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences, said it was time for the Muslim world to go further.
“It’s absolutely frustrating,” he said. “We get very little support from Muslims. They don’t connect. We have to wake them up to the fact their existence is threatened by their own behaviour. Modernity and the economic development paradigm is about dominating nature. Islam, as you are aware, is submission to the will of the creator. We need to remind ourselves that we have to submit.”
The latest statistics from the University of East Anglia show that global carbon emission are at a record high, largely because of the growth of China, making a deal to cut carbon more crucial than ever.
However the talks are currently at a deadlock.
Hopes that Europe will commit to cutting emissions as part of a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol are looking shaky as the block is split over whether to include CO2 reductions caused by the collapse of the Soviet Union (hot air).
The rest of the world is split over which countries make the most ambitious cuts in carbon emissions and how much rich countries should pay out to help the poor adapt to climate change.
His Excellency Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah, Deputy Prime Minister of Qatar, who is President of the Conference of the Parties, known as COP18, has his work cut out.
As a former President of OPEC he is already treated with some suspicion by the environmental lobby.
He must keep the talks on track by reassuring the poor world that money is forthcoming and pushing for progress on achieving reductions in carbon.
Jonathan Grant, a climate change adviser at PwC, said this year’s talks are key to making progress towards a major deal to global deal by 2015.
If they fail, Doha will suffer like Denmark, that hosted a chaotic summit in 2009.
“If the talks collapse, Doha will haunt delegates like Copenhagen. If they are successful, Doha will only be remembered as a housekeeping or administrative COP.”
Telegraph Media Group Limited 2012