Brazil ready to
provide funding
As
the first developing country, Brazil offers to contribute
to the finance mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol –
if an agreement is reached in Copenhagen Friday, says President
Lula.
Morten Andersen - 18/12/2009 - In what he admitted might
come as a surprise to his own countrymen, Brazilian President
Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva (photo above) opened a door for
his country to contribute economically to climate change
measures in other, more needing countries.
"I
have not said this at home, and not even to my team here
in Copenhagen, but if it is necessary for Brazil to tap
money to other countries, we will be willing to participate
in the (UN) finance mechanisms – IF we reach a global
agreement here in Copenhagen today," Lula said as he
addressed the plenary of the UN conference shortly after
noon Friday local time.
Also
on the subject of funding, the President said he understood
demands Thursday by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
for transparency on the part of developing countries:
"Those
countries that provide funds have the right to demand transparency."
Still,
Lula underlined that the monitoring, reporting and verification
(MRV) of emerging economy emissions" should respect
the sovereignty of each country" and that action on
climate change should not hamper economic growth in the
developing world:
"For
a lot of people in Brazil, in Africa, in India, China and
other developing countries three meals a day is still something
of the future."
President
Lula also said that he did not favor agreeing on a statement
"only to be able to say we agreed on something."
Instead "we should together, rich and poor countries,
establish a common ground for an agreement, so we can leave
Copenhagen proud."
Da UNFCCC
