Money to go clean

Developed countries should pay at least 0.5 percent of their economic output to help less wealthy nations build wind turbines, solar plants and use other clean technologies, China, India and South Africa said. The three countries proposed this to the United Nations, which is leading negotiations for a new climate- protection treaty.

The US stand has been that the developing nations too must accept emission targets. The EU has in principle agreed to fund clean energy in the third world but not specified any amount.

The contention of developing nations is that 0.5 percent of the GDP is what the rich nations are already giving as aid to poor nations and it hardly constitutes a pinch. The demand for a specific fund may not be as tough to wrest out as a bigger demand on emission reductions.

Industrialized nations should reduce their greenhouse gas emissions 40% by 2020—which is more than twice most countries' targeted reductions. This will make room for the aspiring countries to "modernize their economies."

India and China have indicated willingness to consider differentiated reduction targets. But expecting the rich world to agree to double the reductions could be tantamount to asking for the moon!

As is well known, Kyoto Protocol notwithstanding, emissions have not shown any reductions but have been continuing the climb.Protocols can be made and re-made. What difference will it make unless these have teeth? Who will monitor for the planet?