Developed Countries Pledge Climate Aid For Developing Nations

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

As the United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNCCC) came to a close on Friday in Copenhagen, Denmark, developed countries pledged to provide climate aid to developing countries. With the agreement dubbed ‘Copenhagen Accord’, world leaders emphasized their strong political will to urgently combat climate change. African leaders were present to the last minute to ensure that African countries’ concerns in climate change were not sidelined as earlier feared. The agreement will see a common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. The industrialized countries will hold global temperatures to no more than two degrees.

“We recognize the critical impact of climate change on countries particularly vulnerable to its adverse effects and stress the need to establish a comprehensive adaptation programme including international support,” the accord said in part.

The accord called for adoption actions aimed at reducing vulnerability and building resilience in developing countries affected by drought, desertification and floods, especially countries in Africa. The world leaders, however, acknowledged that while the Copenhagen accord was not the best climate deal, it was a first step towards tackling climate change challenges.

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