Gordon Brown unveils fund to tackle 'climate emergency'

• Poorer countries to receive fast-tracked support• Prime minister pledges £800m from Britain
Nicholas Watt in Port of Spain
guardian.co.uk, Friday 27 November 2009 21.57 GMT
Gordon Brown has unveiled a $22bn (£13.3bn) global fund to respond to the world's "climate emergency" by fast-tracking funds to poorer countries from next year.
In an intensification of preparations for the Copenhagen summit, which starts on 7 December, the prime minister announced the spending pledge to halt deforestation, build flood defences and boost renewable supplies in the developing world.
The initiative, supported by the US and EU leaders, would involve the use of satellites to ensure that commitments to stop deforestation were being met.
Brown outlined the plan, which is designed to fast-track support before a €100bn commitment to be built up from 2013, on the opening day of the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Trinidad and Tobago.
The prime minister said Britain would contribute £800m to the Copenhagen Launch Fund. "Together, the collective power of the Commonwealth must be brought together to tackle a new historic injustice, that of climate change. We face a climate emergency: we cannot wait until 2013 to begin taking action," he said.
The fund, which would start in the new year, would be worth $10bn a year by 2012, he said, and would be worth $22bn by the time the €100bn fund kicks in from 2013. The new fund will be split two ways:
• Adaptation, in which countries such as Bangladesh will receive upfront help for coastal flood defences as they adapt to climate change.
• Payment by results, in which countries will take action to reduce future carbon emissions by cutting back on deforestation and building up renewable supplies. Deforestation will be monitored by satellites to ensure illegal loggers do not break government commitments.
Brown said it was crucial to win over poorer countries. "While the major cause of high emissions is the activities of the richest countries over many, many years, 90% of future growth in emissions will come from developing countries," the prime minister said. "Therefore, we have got to have a plan to make sure their emissions can come down."
Britain believes that agreement on climate financing among Commonwealth leaders would be highly symbolic ahead of Copenhagen. Preparations for the summit in the Danish capital have been soured by divisions between developed and developing countries.
"From London to Trinidad and Tobago to Copenhagen may seem a roundabout journey, but this is one of the routes to Copenhagen to make sure we can get an agreement that will work," Brown said. Britain sees the Commonwealth as a microcosm of the 193 countries invited to Copenhagen. It includes rich countries, such as Britain and Australia; emerging nations, such as India and South Africa; some of the world's poorest nations, such as Malawi; rainforest nations, including Guyana; and island nations such as the Maldives.
Brown said: "There will be no Copenhagen agreement unless we find a solution on finance. The financial issues resolve the ability of poor countries to be part of a climate initiative. If they do not have the money to transfer their energies into doing pro-carbon reduction matters, they will not be able to do them. If we are able to help them to do it, then they will be able to make big changes."
Brown believes there is strong support in the developed world for the $10bn fund. Nicolas Sarkozy threw his weight behind the plan today when he became the first French president to attend a Commonwealth heads of government meeting. The US president, Barack Obama, has indicated that he supports the proposal.
The fund has been strengthened since EU leaders agreed at a Brussels summit at the end of October that a global €100bn-a-year fund should be established by 2020. This will be provided in three ways:
• Developing nations such as China and, to a slightly lesser extent, Brazil, will fund their own carbon reduction.
• Developed nations will contribute public funds.
• Private funds will be provided through the carbon market.EU leaders agreed that an earlier $10bn fund – the basis of yesterday's announcement – should be fast tracked from next year. This is entirely public funds.
The EU summit in October was seen as a significant moment which encouraged key developing nations to make key commitments to cut emissions. Brazil will cut emissions by 36-39% by 2020 over what is known as "business as usual" – the emissions level if no action were taken. South Korea will cut by 30% and Indonesia will cut by 26-41%. "These are serious and ambitious offers," Brown said.
Earlier, the Queen told the opening ceremony: "The threat to our environment is not a new concern. But it is now a global challenge which will continue to affect the security and stability of millions for years to come.
"Many of those affected are among the most vulnerable, and many of the people least well able to withstand the adverse effects of climate change live in the Commonwealth."