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Fund sought to fight emissions

Bangkok: Poor countries at the U.N. conference have said they will not sign a global warming pact unless industrialised nations guarantee them billions of dollars needed to adapt to the impact of climate change.

Nations in the Caribbean and South Pacific recounted how they are being hit by worsening floods, rising seas and cyclones linked to climate change and don’t have the money to build sea walls or relocate threatened villagers.

“Adaptation is critical to our very survival,” said Selwin Hart, a delegate from Barbados who was speaking for the Alliance of Small Island States. “If a deal on adaptation is not part of this agreement, we have no incentive to be part of it.”

Rich countries insist they are willing to help but disagree over how to provide assistance — whether it should be voluntary aid favoured by the U.S. or a European proposal to use the trading of pollution permits. Along with financing, countries are expected to wrangle over how best to reduce emissions in a new agreement. — AP

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