The talks are also unwieldy, involving more than 10,000 delegates from 190 countries in two weeks of discussions on how best to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and avoid climate change.

Furthermore, Bali serves as a platform for the reiteration of well-known - and often well-worn - national positions. President George W. Bush may have promised that the US would 'lead the world to produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions', but his delegation in Bali is still opposing any mandatory environmental ceiling.

And the usual disputes erupted between developed nations and developing countries which fear that such environmental controls could slow down their economic growth.

It is easy, therefore, to dismiss the Bali gathering as just another grand diplomatic jamboree. But it could still be a trailblazer.

First, it has provided a useful platform for Australia's new government to unveil its environmental policy.

This goes beyond just ratification of the Kyoto accord, for Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd - who will be arriving in Bali early next week - has also declared his ambition to act as a 'bridge' between China and the West on climate change.

Australia's contribution could be beneficial, because it comes hard on the heels of a similar effort by the European Union to eliminate the West's disputes with China over carbon emissions.

And, although the focus of the conference is on preparing a negotiating timetable for a new international agreement, other topics under discussion - such as reducing emissions from deforestation - are just as important.

More significantly, the discussion is not only between diplomatic negotiators and non-governmental organisations (NGOs); the business community (largely absent from previous gatherings) is now present in force, with commercial companies showing particular interest in the financial opportunities created by the so-called Clean Development Mechanism concept.

But many other initiatives announced in Bali - such as Indonesia's pledge to preserve 4,300ha of its forests permanently - remain puny, designed more with an eye to favourable media headlines rather than serious environmental safeguards.

Nevertheless, the conference has succeeded in mobilising public opinion.

A recent global poll indicates that large majorities in most countries support urgent environmental protection.

'Leaders in Bali do not need to worry that they will face a difficult job of selling their general public on the need for action,' said Mr Steven Kull, director of WorldPublicOpinion.org, which coordinated the poll.

'Rather, the public around the world are signalling that they are ready to do more than their own governments have been asking of them.'