After years of failed attempts the UN climate change talks agreed a measure to extend the Kyoto Protocol, which for the first time will force the biggest polluters to take action to slow the pace of global warming.
Grenada foreign affairs minister said it was a moment to remember.
(SOUNDBITE) GRENADA MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, KARL HOOD, SAYING(English):
"This will be a very historic moment for the world, especially for Africa for that to happen on Africa's soil, to get something that is legally binding upon all countries."
The international agreement which enforces carbon cuts, was due to expire at the end of next year.
The talks in Durban had been extended into a second day on Sunday due to disputes over how to phrase the legal commitment.
The EU pushed for strong wording and three biggest emitters the US, China and India resisted.
US Climate Envoy, Todd Stern.
(SOUNDBITE) U.S. CLIMATE ENVOY, TODD STERN, SAYING(English):
"One thing that is also true is that the proof will be in the pudding in terms of the willingness of all of these countries, to actually get into negotiations where there is much more parody and I think that's going to happen."
The Indian environment minister hailed the conference as a success.
(SOUNDBITE) INDIAN ENVIRONMENT MINISTER, JAYANTHI NATARAJAN, SAYING(English):
"We're happy that this major success was achieved despite so many different points of view and we showed, and other people also showed great flexibility."
However not everyone was full of praise.
While the World Wildlife Fund head welcomed the extension she said many key decisions were left for next year.
(SOUNDBITE) HEAD OF WWF DELEGATION, NASIM ESSOP, SAYING(English):
" So for example the targets for those who are going to take a second commitment period, those will only be decided on next year. Also, a very important element, the decision around how long a commitment period will be, will it be five years or eight years, was also not decided on in this conference. So that decision will have to be taken next year. So these are two critical elements, the body of the Kyoto Protocol essentially."
While many were pleased with the outcome of the talks some environmentalists said it did not go far enough.
U.N. reports released in the last month showed time is running out to restrict global warming to safe limits.
Marie-Claire Fennessy, Reuters