Written question asked by Lord Barker of Battle (Conservative) on Thursday, 11 June 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 15 June 2009. It was answered by Joan Ruddock (Labour) on Monday, 22 June 2009 on behalf of the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Climate Change: International Cooperation

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the development of international financing mechanisms for mitigation and adaptation actions in developing countries as part of a climate agreement to be reached at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009.

Answer: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have been discussing the development of international finance mechanisms for mitigation and adaptation with our EU colleagues ahead of the EU Councils this year, as part of preparing the EU position in advance of Copenhagen. In particular, the UK is attracted to the Norwegian proposal (a market-based approach based on auctioning arrangements generating automatic revenues) as part of the solution. Spring Council conclusions directed future discussions towards such an approach among others. The UK is also attracted to the Mexican proposal which is based on all countries except the poorest contributing on the basis of an agreed scale. The latest ECOFIN conclusions endorsed this idea, with burden sharing based on the ability to pay and the responsibility for emissions. At Spring Council and again in ECOFIN the EU reaffirmed its commitment to contribute its fair share of international support in the context of a global and comprehensive agreement.

Secondary information