Brown proposes global fund to kick-start Copenhagen climate change process

PM says he expects £10bn plan to be backed by Commonwealth leaders, Nicolas Sarkozy and US

Press Association
guardian.co.uk, Friday 27 November 2009 12.28 GMT
Gordon Brown today proposed setting up a global fund to "kick-start" the Copenhagen climate change process and encourage poorer countries to start cutting greenhouse gas emissions immediately.
Days ahead of the vital UN-sponsored climate change conference in the Danish capital, Brown proposed a £10bn rich-world fund, to which Britain would contribute £800m.
The initiative would give incentives to developing countries to halt deforestation, develop low-carbon energy sources and prepare for the effects of a warmer climate.
Covering the years 2010-12, the Copenhagen launch fund would deliver funds to poorer states on a payment by results system, under which those which showed they were taking action to halt climate change would receive more cash.
Brown said he expected the proposal to be welcomed at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting, which he is attending in Trinidad today.
He added that he expected it to be backed by Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, who is attending the talks to discuss Europe's response to global warming, as well as by the US.