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Ed Miliband challenges wealthy nations on climate change
05.11.09
Wealthy nations need to "put their money where their mouth is" and promise finance for a global climate change deal, Ed Miliband said today.
The Climate Change Secretary said he expected negotiations at next month's crucial international summit in Copenhagen to go "right down to the wire", with funding for developing countries set to be a potential stumbling block.
He also said the aviation and maritime industries would be expected to help fund a deal.
At last week's European Council, the EU's leaders agreed to a 100 billion Euro annual package of public and private finance by 2020 to help poorer nations develop green industries and adapt to climate change.
At Commons question time Mr Miliband said: "One of the cruellest things about climate change is that the people who have done least to cause the problem face the worst consequences of it, including in Africa and elsewhere.
"At the same time we have to persuade developing countries to do not as we did, which is to grow in a high-carbon way, but to do as we say, which is to grow in a low-carbon way."
Liberal Democrat spokesman Simon Hughes called for the Government to propose an international levy on aviation and maritime fuel.
Mr Miliband said: "We are looking at the way aviation and maritime, potentially through a trading regime as has been suggested, indeed, by a number of the airlines, can play a role in providing the necessary finance for a Copenhagen agreement.
"The most important thing is that countries make clear commitments on finance.
"Sources of finance are important but the real prize at Copenhagen is a clear sense that countries are going to put their money where their mouth is, and that is what we are striving to achieve."
Reader views (6)
Instead of promising away more of our money that we don't have, why doesn't Ed Who? explain to the people why we should be paying more tax to counter global warming when global temperatures have been going down for the last two years.
- Doug Watt, london (EUSSR)14
Oh, and one more thing: if he is challenging 'wealthy' nations, that rules the UK out surely?
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one
Why does changing the climate require finance, which inevitably means my tax?
Ok, let's all reduce our carbon footprints: I'll start by switching my thermostat down and not putting the telly into standby at night. There, that didn't cost much, did it?
The government should stop using the spectre of 'climate change' as a lever to raise more tax, none of which will go anywhere near developing countries and will instead be used to pay off the UK's vast deficit, caused by Labour's inept management of the economy.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one
Well that rules out the UK then. The only country still in a reall and deep recession after a year with unemployement, national debt and money supply still increasing.
It's about time some African countries and former Soviets started bailing us out.
- James, City of London
Yes, but thanks to Ed Miliband and his merry band of Labour brothers our country doesn't have any money to put where our mouth is. Just another eco-loony who wants to bankrupt the country and have us all living in the dark. Kick them all out!
- Chris, SE England
If Miliband were to shut his big mouth all the alleged climate change rubbish would vanish in seconds.
- Reuben Camara, Plot 1, Morecambe Compound, EUSSR
