The Kyoto Protocol finally kicked into gear earlier this year, and now the real fun is about to begin. On Nov. 28, Montreal will welcome the ratifying countries to their first official gathering as such—and it promises to be a doozy. Kyoto backers will be joined by detractors like the U.S. and Australia as they try to figure out what the heck to do after the controversial climate treaty runs its course in 2012. Check out a Grist.org preview of what should be a lively few days, and read a refresher on the basics of climate conferences and Kyoto to remind us how we got to this point in the first place. Syndicated from Grist.org.

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