As negotiators, diplomats, politicians and others prepare for the December 2009 UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, there is a growing awareness that those who have least contributed to climate change will in many cases be the most affected. It is a tragic paradox that the world’s most vulnerable in the developing world will bear the brunt of what several discussants referred to as the developed world’s “irrational and uncontrollable addiction” to fossil fuels.

Most discussants at the DPF roundtable were doubtful that Copenhagen would result in a global agreement that fully takes into consideration the needs of developing countries. However, they acknowledged that the developed world has a moral responsibility to pay for climate change adaptation and mitigation in developing countries. Such responsibility is also a matter of self-interest for developed countries – in an increasingly globalised world issues emerging from the energy, food security, water and environment nexus will affect both rich and poor.

The time to act is now, discussants agreed. Rising temperatures are changing the global climate. The effects are obvious as we witness extreme weather events, rising sea levels, increasing floods, melting glaciers and severe droughts throughout the world. These changes are already having an impact on the way in which people live.

Agriculture, human settlement and migration, sanitation and water supplies will all be affected, leading to changes in human health, wealth and security. People already living in poverty will suffer more from the effects of climate change and their numbers are set to grow. Small island states are particularly vulnerable, as rising waters are threatening livelihoods and lives.

“From a small island perspective, climate change is a human rights issue. Our entire country will be affected,” said Ian William Fry, International Environmental Officer for the Government of Tuvalu. Fry told participants that one of the tasks ahead is to build resilience for affected countries. “The developing world should not be paying for its own adaptation. Clearly, we need a bigger effort on mitigation at global level,” he added.

There was consensus that money to help developing countries cope with the affects of climate change must be over and above already-pledged official development assistance (ODA). Discussants also agreed that developing countries will need substantial capacity building assistance if they are to effectively absorb both existing ODA and any extra funding.

But what is the price tag – estimates of mitigation and adaptation measures vary wildly – and where will the money come from? The common refrain is that the money exists. What is needed are innovative funding mechanisms. Several proposals are on the table including a €4 tax on airline tickets to raise €10 billion per year and allocating proceeds from the EU’s Emission Trading System to climate change actions.

Many discussants pointed out that a credible first step for Europe would be to fulfil existing commitments. For example, the EU could send a powerful signal to developing countries in the lead up to the Copenhagen negotiations by putting US$ 2 billion on the table for urgent near-term adaptation and capacity-building needs in developing countries, including financing for National Adaptation Programmes of Action by Least Developed Countries to identify priority activities for climate change adaptation.

These issues will be explored further at Friends of Europe’s summit, Climate change – Keys to a Concerted Policy Shift, to be held in during the European Commission’s Green Week in Brussels, 23 to 24 June 2009.

Introductory discussants included:

• Matthew Findlay, Programme Leader, Global Climate Deal, Third Generation Environmentalism (E3G)
• Ian William Fry, International Environmental Officer, Department of Environment, Ministry of Natural Resources and Lands, Government of Tuvalu
• Robin Gwynn, Climate Security Envoy for Vulnerable Countries at UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office
• Saleemul Huq, Senior Fellow, International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)
• Bianca Jagger, Chair of the World Future Council, President of the Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation and Council of Europe Goodwill Ambassador
• Wahu Kaara, Kenyan Social Justice Activist, Former Ecumenical Coordinator for the MDGs and Nobel Peace Prize Nominee
• Philip Mikos, Head of Unit, Sustainable Management of Natural Resources, European Commission Directorate General for Development and Relations with ACP States
• Maria Netto, Climate Change Policy Advisor, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), New York
• Makase Nyaphisi, Lesotho’s Ambassador to Germany
• Johan Schaar, Director, Commission on Climate Change and Development, Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• to download the complete list of the registered discussants, please click here .

The Development Policy Forum (DPF) is a partnership between Friends of Europe, the United Nations, the World Bank, the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the UK's Department for International Development (DFID), the Deutsche Gesselschaft für Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) with the support of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Ecosocial Forum Europe, and in association with the European Commission Directorate General for Development and Relations with ACP States.