India has thrown down the gauntlet to developed nations in the latest round of climate change talks, saying the developing world wants to see pledges of cash before it is prepared to discuss emissions curbs.
The move draws the battle lines between rich and poor countries and threatens to halt progress on climate change, because rich countries insist they cannot name sums before getting commitments that future emissions will be substantially lower than projections.
Shyam Saran, special envoy to the Indian prime minister, said at a United Nations meeting in Bonn: “The question [of developing country curbs] should not be divorced from what financial support is available. Rather than ask, are you prepared to deviate from business as usual, the question is what kind of efforts are possible if adequate financial resources and technical resources are made available.”