Rich countries are responsible for past emissions but poor countries are hardest hit. How should international action tackle the problems of the poorest countries?
Those countries responsible for the stock of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere now have a responsibility to help the poorest countries to adapt to climate change. Adaptation to climate change will increase pressure on already scarce resources. International action to support adaptation includes support for good development practice, and it is important that rich countries honour the commitments they have made to double aid flows by 2010. There are also specific areas where international co-operation is relevant – including research into new crop varieties, better climate data and regional modelling of impacts. International action to reduce emissions is also essential to protect all countries from even greater risks of climate impacts. Emissions trading is a powerful way to promote co-operation with between rich countries and the growing economies that have relatively cheap opportunities to cut emissions. The Clean Development Mechanism is already channelling some investment to develo
