Call it the year of the Americas. Long overshadowed by other continents with larger greenhouse gas emitters, more vulnerable ecosystems or more investment-attractive energy markets, Latin and South American countries have not historically been recognized as major players in international climate talks. Analysts say that's about to change. When Mexico hosts the next major climate summit this December, a new U.N. chief from Costa Rica will orchestrate the proceedings. Brazil will wield an influential role among large developing nations. Colombia will maneuver behind the scenes to find compromises. And Bolivia -- joined by Nicaragua and Venezuela -- will lead the charge for climate "justice." "The Americas are moving, and they're moving strongly. Latin America is making its mark," said Jose Alberto Garibaldi, a former member of Mexico's delegation to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change and now the director of Energia Research.

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The United States will spend $136 million over three years on environment and climate change programs in Indonesia, according to a statement issued by the White House on Monday. The agreement between two of the world's biggest emitters of planet-warming greenhouse gases follows Norway's $1 billion commitment in May to environmental programs in Indonesia. Indonesia is regarded as a key player in the fight to slow climate change because its tropical forests and carbon-rich peatlands trap huge amounts of carbon dioxide but its rapid deforestation rate has sparked concern among environmentalists. Trees soak up carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, as they grow and release it when they burn or rot. The White House statement said the United States would allocate $119 million toward a partnership called SOLUSI, which stands for Science, Oceans, Land Use, Society and Innovation.

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