In case this story line from the International Herald Tribune sounds familiar — of global-warming negotiators reaching an important accord to meet again later to reach an important accord – it really, really should.

The subtitle of that latter link — a 2001 piece for NRO — remains as current now as ever: “ ‘World Reaches Warming Pact’ again, only not really.”

Remember: 155 countries are exempt from Kyoto — and loving it — leaving the “hard cap” construct mired in talks with no new takers for a successor deal. And the European Union member states remain, in Angela Merkel’s turn of a phrase, quite pleased in thinking that, this time around, each of them will be the ones to get a free ride. Accordingly, the EU has yet to reach a post-2012 “burden sharing” arrangement, which means Europe cannot credibly claim to make any collective promise. Which means that 155 is more like 180.

But, as has occurred about twice a year for the past decade, rest assured that the parties have agreed to convene with seriousness of purpose in the very near future.