Approaching 2-Year Mark On Pledge Of Climate Funding, Developing World Skeptical At Bonn Talks

[hatrack]

The UN climate talks re-opened in Bonn on Monday with developing countries increasingly resentful that money promised 18 months ago to help them adapt to climate change has not been made available.

New research by the World Resources Institute (WRI) shows that the world's 21 developed countries and the European commission have publicly announced pledges of $28bn in "fast-track" money after a commitment made in Copenhagen in 2009. While this is close to the $30bn promised for the 2010-2012 period, only around $12bn has actually been budgeted for by countries and as little as around 30% has been delivered in some cases.

One negotiator with the G77 group of developing countries, who asked to remain nameless, said: "We are battered by adverse impacts of climate change. Frontline states face a double crunch of climate heat and poverty. But even the fast-start finance agreed at Cancún has yet to reach the climate-marooned tens of millions people across Asia, Africa and Latin America. The money should be rolled out much more quickly."

Confusion and secrecy surrounds the source of the funds. According to the WRI, many countries may be "double counting" their offers. "The fast-start pledges of the United Kingdom and the United States also include their 2008 commitments to the Climate Investment Funds (CIFs) of roughly $1.4bn and $2bn respectively," says the report. "Japan's $15bn fast start pledge announced in December 2009 includes $10bn announce previously in 2008. The UK has indicated that it had approved £568m for specific programmes in 2010-11. This means that it will need to provide £932m, in fast-start funds by 2012 in order to meet pledges", said Clifford Polycarp, a senior associate with the WRI.

EDIT

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jun/06/bonn-climate-funding-commitment

[Bragi]

1. No-one intends to do anything

That's the reality. The right wing has been so overwhelmingly victorious on their PR routing of climate science that its all over.

The global political and economic systems will not allow for any serious effort to combat climate change, and we will indeed have to deal with the worst case scenario for adverse impacts.

Did I say "we"?

My mistake, I'm 60.

I meant to say "those of you under the age of 30" will indeed have to deal with the worst case scenario for adverse impacts.