Developing countries are allocating more money than the developed world for fighting climate change, the UN said Wednesday, lauding India for pledging $50 million for bio-diversity conservation at a meet here.
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Achim Steiner, who is here to attend the 11th meeting of the Conference of Parties on Conservation of Bio-diversity observed that the rich nations are yet to give money promised to poor nations for fighting climate change.
"The contribution of developing nations to conserve bio-diversity is significant. Developed nations cannot argue that they are putting more money on the table," Steiner told IANS.
Lauding India's efforts in bio-diversity conservation, Steiner said: "Prime minister of India yesterday (Tuesday) announced $50 million for bio-diversity conservation, thus sending a signal the issue if rising of political radar of the government."
The UN official said the UNEP secretariat is putting together figures of money spent by developed and developing countries under various programmes to deal with impacts of climate change like crop failure, extreme weather events like drought and floods among others.
"Majority of protected forest areas are in developing nations and budgetary allocations for bio-diversity, ecosystem, wildlife protection and enforcement of law have increased in last few years. Conservation of bio-diversity has become an important part of national economy," he said.
Calling upon the rich countries to play a pro-active role, Steiner said: "At international negotiations the money committed by developed countries is only charity. They should become co-investor in bio-diversity conservation as they are also a co-benefactor."
The talks at the UN bio-diversity conference are stuck on resource mobilization to take measures to protect bio-diversity. There have been differences among countries over pledging resources for bio-diversity conservation.
The UNEP executive director also allayed fears that economic crisis in west would impact the investment in green sector.
"The money being spent in stabilising economy should be invested in technology of future and not of the past. Many countries have shown progress in green sector. Last year, India was the fastest growing clean energy market in the world and China is one of the major hub of solar and wind energy so countries can take measure to invest in green sector," he said.
About 15,000 delegates from over 185 countries are attending the 11th meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP11) to the Convention on Bio-diversity (CBD) COP11, which began Oct 8 and will continue till Oct 19.
