Copenhagen (Denmark) – The head of the Brazilian delegation at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) in Copenhagen, the Minister of the Civil Household, Dilma Rousseff, said today (16 Dec) that rich countries want to establish virtually equal contribution shares to both rich and developing countries in the composition of the fund against global warming.

The Minister said that rich countries are trying to pass a proposal that establishes the participation of emerging countries in 20% of the total funds and the participation of developed countries in 25%. The remaining shares would be funded by the private sector. The proposal, which contributes even more to the deadlock of the conference’s negotiations, faces strong opposition by China, India, South Africa and Brazil.

“We are in favor of common but differentiated commitments. Such countries have 200 years of development and accumulation of wealth, that is why we cannot agree with this”, said Dilma. The Minister of the Environment, Carlos Minc, added: “This way, the United States will soon allege they are also a developing country.”

According to the Minister of the Civil Household, a study commissioned by the United Nations (UN) shows that the fund should receive from US$ 200 billion to US$210 billion in 2030. This would be the annual value of the fund when it becomes fully operational. From these resources, according to the Minister, 46% (between US$ 92 and US$ 97 billion) would finance actions to curb future carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in developing countries. The rest (from US$120 to US$ 164 billions) would be destined to poor countries for the implementation of climate change adaptation measures.

Dilma has also said that the voluntary commitment of Brazil to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions from 36.1% to 39.8% by 2020 has an estimated cost of US$166 billions for the next ten years. According to her, the 80% reduction in Amazon deforestation until 2020 would cost US$ 20 billions of this total, and this would be the only case in which Brazil would need international non-refundable aid.

Roberto Maltchick, Special Envoy - TV Brasil

December 17, 2009