Developing world wants bigger commitment

Developed countries should deliver substantial financing to developing countries in order to enable them to pursue the dual goals of both reductions of emissions and economic development, a lead negotiator for the developing world said ahead of the UN Climate Change Summit, according to Chinese news agency Xinhua.

The EU has promised to reduce emissions by 20 % from 1990 levels in 2020 – rising to 30 % if other nations follow with ambitious targets.

The President of the G77, Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping, commented: "It's a serious mistake and lack of responsibility from the European countries to commit to such a low degree of reductions…It's their obligation to rise up to the challenge of serious reduction of emissions because science has already spoken that the world cannot afford inaction."

He continued: "I do believe that they [the European countries] should move away from considering their national economic interests at the cost of humanity."

Di-Aping added that the US commitment to cut emissions by 17 % in 2020 from 2005 levels is also not enough. To say that the United States "is taking any aggressive actions is not really true", Di-Aping said.

In contrast, Di-Aping claimed that developing countries have been taking aggressive actions, citing China, Brazil, South Africa and India as examples.

The Group of 77 is negotiating on behalf of 130 developing countries in Copenhagen