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Nations spar over funds at climate talks
Source: Agencies |
December 8, 2012, Saturday
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A DISPUTE over money clouded UN climate talks yesterday, as rich and poor countries sparred over funds meant to help the developing world cover the rising costs of mitigating global warming and adapting to it.
Developing countries want firm commitments from rich nations to scale up climate aid to poor countries to US$100 billion annually by 2020, a general pledge that was made three years ago.
Rich nations are unwilling to commit to specific targets now, citing world financial turmoil and pressure on their budgets.
After overnight negotiations, a draft agreement was presented yesterday that does not include midterm targets, which developing countries had called for. The UN climate secretariat said "further consultations are necessary."
That issue has overshadowed the talks since they started last week in Qatar, the first Middle Eastern country to host the slow-moving annual negotiations aimed at crafting a global response to climate change.
Climate activists said the talks were being held back by short-sighted financial concerns among developed countries. "The tone of the negotiations is extremely sour now," said Greenpeace international leader Kumi Naidoo, who predicted that discussions would continue into the weekend. Negotiators were also trying to extend the Kyoto Protocol, an emissions reduction pact for rich countries that expires this month.
Developing countries want firm commitments from rich nations to scale up climate aid to poor countries to US$100 billion annually by 2020, a general pledge that was made three years ago.
Rich nations are unwilling to commit to specific targets now, citing world financial turmoil and pressure on their budgets.
After overnight negotiations, a draft agreement was presented yesterday that does not include midterm targets, which developing countries had called for. The UN climate secretariat said "further consultations are necessary."
That issue has overshadowed the talks since they started last week in Qatar, the first Middle Eastern country to host the slow-moving annual negotiations aimed at crafting a global response to climate change.
Climate activists said the talks were being held back by short-sighted financial concerns among developed countries. "The tone of the negotiations is extremely sour now," said Greenpeace international leader Kumi Naidoo, who predicted that discussions would continue into the weekend. Negotiators were also trying to extend the Kyoto Protocol, an emissions reduction pact for rich countries that expires this month.
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