G77 rejects EU’s $2.1bn for climate funding

By: Michael Simire on December 18th, 2009

At the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, the European Union (EU) proposed a climate change adaptation and mitigation budget of 2.1 billion US dollars a year for developing countries for the 2010-2012 period.

Ambassador Lumumba Di-Aping, the chief negotiator of the G77 group of developing nations, described the proposed budget as ‘insignificant’.

“It is not only insignificant, but it has actually shown the mistrust of EU leaders in addressing climate change. There is a serious deficit of leadership in the EU”, Di-Aping added.

Apparently the less-affluent EU countries are reluctant to participate in costly emission cuts or to contribute to a fund intended to help developing nations address climate change.

The G77 is pressing the EU and other industrialised countries for more upfront funding and for assurances about long-term financing for climate change adaptation and mitigation.

The UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Yvo de Boer, however, thought the proposed budget could positively influence the negotiation process.

“The fact that Europe is going to put a figure on the table will, I think, be hugely encouraging to the process,” said de Boer.

Meanwhile the Pan-African Parliamentary Network on Climate Change (PAPNCC) expressed concern about the lack of progress in the negotiations.

“We wish to caution the industrialised countries that this is the last chance to act unselfishly to ensure that future generations have a cooler world to live in”,  Awudu Mbaya Cyprian, the PAPNCC president, told reporters.

The PAPNCC said: “Developed counties created the climate crisis as they became wealthy and they have the financial resources to tackle it. This gives them a double duty to act. Developed countries must compensate Africa”.

According to PAPNCC, over 70 per cent of CO2 from industrial sources is emitted by the 20 per cent of people living in the industrialised world, whereas Africa’s emissions account for less than four per cent.