Saudi Arabia Says ‘Will Never’ Contribute to $100 Billion UN Green Fund - Bloomberg

Saudi Arabia “will never contribute” to the United Nations’ $100 billion Green Climate Fund, which should be financed by the governments of developed nations, according to the kingdom’s chief climate negotiator. “Saudi Arabia and other developing countries will never contribute to this Fund as some developed countries are suggesting,” Mohammad al-Sabban said today in an e-mailed response to questions. “It is not acceptable to ask developing countries to contribute to the fund, because and as stated in the Climate Convention, it is the responsibility of the developed countries,” he said referring to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change or UNFCCC. “We are very strong on this point along with other developing countries.” The Green Climate Fund, which was central to agreements reached last year by UN treaty negotiators in Cancun, Mexico, is being discussed at climate talks in Durban, South Africa that began this week. The world’s richest countries pledged to channel $100 billion annually by 2020, part of it through the fund, to help poorer nations reduce greenhouse-gas emissions from energy production and adapt to effects of global warming such as rising sea levels.