"Climate Talks Imperiled by Rich-Poor Fight Over Hard Targets for Aid"

In the run-up to December's climate talks in Paris, the battle over hard targets for financial aid to poor countries has emerged as a potential obstacle to a final treaty.

"Just three years after the world’s nations established the Framework Convention on Climate Change at the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992, a push was initiated to move from that agreement’s aspirational goals for cutting emissions of greenhouse gases to hard targets and timetables for wealthier countries. That effort started in Berlin in 1995 at the first Conference of the Parties (the shorthand is COP 1) and fell apart in Copenhagen (COP 15) in 2009.

Now we’re in the final weeks ahead of COP 21, the Paris talks on a new climate accord. A softer path on emissions, dropping rigid targets to foster full participation, has raised the odds of producing something for all to sign.

But a much tougher battle for hard targets — over money — has moved into the foreground and could still do for Paris what the emissions fight did for Copenhagen. As the final preparatory weeklong round of talks in Bonn wound to a close tonight, developing countries stood firm on calls for cash, not another I.O.U."

Andrew C. Revkin reports for the New York Times October 23, 2015.

SEE ALSO:

"Can a Phrase Change the World? Some Diplomats Here Hope So" (ClimateWire)

"Climate Finance Dispute Slows U.N. Talks as Time Runs Short for Paris" (Reuters)