One year ago, at the tail end of a searingly hot day on the Balinese peninsula of Nusa Dua, governments from around the world agreed on a plan to save the climate.

They pledged that by December 2009 in Copenhagen, they'll have nailed down an agreement to achieve the global emission cuts urgently required to keep climate change in check. In doing so, they acknowledged that it's now or never; that if they fail to reach that agreement, they will be unable to look the future in the eye.

A year is a long time in today's climate. Temperature increases, global emissions and loss of ice at the Arctic and Antarctic have now overshot scientists' worst case scenarios.

The Arctic icecap has entered what's been called a 'death spiral'. For the first time in human history, you can take a ship right around the North Pole. There may be no summer ice left at all at the North Pole within five years. Many are calling for the world to be put on a war footing...

The next step towards Copenhagen is a meeting of world leaders in Poznan, Poland starting today.

190 nations will be there for 13 days trying to figure out a way forward.

Time is not on their side. The task could not be harder.

But failing is not an option if this war is to be won.

The world will be watching. Greenpeace will be taking action and we need you with us.

Please join our email actio alert and we'll tell you what the next step is.