Doha talks hit green dole hurdle

Nitin Sethi TNN

Doha: A diplomatic slugfest ended in logjam as the US and EU refused to even discuss how they shall providethe promised $100 billion to poor countries to adapt to climate change and addressemission reductions.
The row erupted even as new reports came in of the developed world having resorted to creative accounting to prove it had delivered on its promise of $30 billion to poor countries between 2010 and 2012.Europe and the US led the argument thatinstitutionshadbeen created to provide finance and there was not much else to be done.They said the countries should trusttheir commitment.
A host of developing countries attacked their stance.The Philippines,China,Nicaragua,India,Brazil,Argentina and others warned that there was no clarity on how these countries would deliver on their promise after reports showed they had fudged in the first place.Even Colombia,which is part of the Cartagena Group andseen as alignedcloser tothe developed countries,went ballistic atthe meeting.
The attempttostallthetalks on finance began with the US claiming that it could not engage in discussions because its finance experts had left,although their key finance negotiator was sitting in the room.Soon,theUS began talksbutonly to demand that the world not discuss a timeline for delivery of the funds and leave it to the rich countries to figure it out-. TheEUclaimeditwastoocomplicatedtohave a simpleformula to upscale the flow of funds from 2013 onwards to reach the $100billion figure.