Copenhagen threatened by EU

Monday, November 30, 2009

The EU wants climate change commitments for assisting developing countries to come out of existing international development funds, The Guardian has reported after viewing confidential documents.

The documents are said to show that the EU has removed parts of the negotiating text for the December Copenhagen climate change conference. Specifically objections were raised by the EU negotiating team to references that climate change aid will be in addition to existing development funds. The team wrote that they: "Cannot accept reference to 'additional to', and 'separate from' ODA [official development assistance] targets."

This has been heavily criticised by charities and aid agencies, who say that this undermines and threatens the summit.

Rob Bailey, Oxfam's senior policy adviser said: "No developing country will sign up to an agreement that could give them no extra money at all. The EU and other rich countries must provide new and additional finance, otherwise there will be no deal at all."

There is split opinion in Europe as to whether there should be additional climate change funding. Britain is amongst the countries to have argued for climate change funding to be in addition to existing development commitments. However, this position has been met with embarrassment following revelations that all climate change aid committed by Britain to date has come from existing aid budgets.

The implications of using existing funds, could see significant funding reductions in vital areas of international development such as health, sanitation and water.

The Millennium Development Goals, pledged to solve inadequacies in these areas and others are far from being met, with deadlines past the half way mark.