developing countries

A sobering review of progress from the G77 and China, whose Chairman just complained bitterly about the pressure developing countries were coming under to make concessions.

Unspecified countries - probably the US and Canada, and possibly Japan as well - had threatened trade sanctions if the developing world refused to take on commitments to reduce or limit their emissions, Munir Akram told us.

A year ago, the UN's climate change conference in Nairobi was described by openDemocracy as ‘rhetoric-heavy but action-light'. But developing countries were much happier with the outcome.

Why? Because the decision was taken to set up a fund to help them adapt to the impacts of climate change. In Bali, however, squabbles about the management of the new Adaptation Fund are taking up valuable air time.