COP15

Proposals from Denmark, which is chairing the climate negotiations, and the emerging developing economies the content of a final deal in Copenhangen have emerged today

$200bn could mean the difference between success and failure in Copenhagen, as the UN climate summit begins in the city today. The Summit marks the culmination of two years of international negotiations on a deal to prevent catastrophic climate change.

Oxfam applauded today’s announcement that President Obama will attend the United Nations conference on climate change in Copenhagen at the same time as other world leaders.

Recent attempts by rich countries to postpone a binding climate agreement hit the rocks at a meeting of Environment Ministers in Copenhagen today, as vulnerable developing countries made clear that delay was not an option.

Environment Ministers from 45 countries will be gathering on 16 and 17 November to map out what the climate deal will look like. The meeting is an opportunity for rich countries to get the Climate Summit off on the right track and show poor countries that there is still a deal worth fighting for.

Oxfam today warned that EU countries must cut themselves loose from the US or risk losing a groundbreaking climate deal that has been two years in the making. A fair and safe deal can be struck in Copenhagen this year, but world leaders cannot wait for the US to play catch-up.

Two years ago, rich nations promised to deliver a legally binding climate deal in Copenhagen. Now rich countries have admitted to back peddling in order to accommodate the US.

Oxfam called on the US to join Europe in laying its climate finance cards on the table as international climate talks opened in Barcelona today.

The European Union’s suggestion today of global public financing worth €22-€50 billion per year for developing countries to tackle climate change falls short of what is needed.

EU finance ministers failed today to reach a deal on how to pay for climate action in developing countries – a make or break issue in international climate talks.