Clashing in Copenhagen
Nicolas Loris /
With the Copenhagen climate summit wrapping up Friday, there are a number of battles developing from the political elite to the grassroots activists. But none is bigger than the one between developed and developing nations that has stalled progress for a binding treaty.
Rich vs. Poor
Developing nations want more money to combat climate change, steeper emissions cuts from developed nations and exemption from any binding agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Developing nations are pushing for $100 billion annually, emissions cuts of 25-40% by 2020 for developed countries and an extension of the Kyoto Protocol that would excuse developing nations from cutting CO2.
Developed nations want just the opposite. Their offer to developing nations is $10 billion a year but Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said it could be increased to $100 billion if major developing countries, most notably China, commit to emissions reductions. The Washington Post reports, “The United States pledged Thursday to help secure $100 billion in annual financing by 2020 to help poor countries cope with climate change but said its commitment depends on whether the nations gathered here forge a substantive environmental pact that includes “transparency” on tracking emissions cuts.”