At a meeting of the High Level Advisory Group on Climate Change Financing, held in New York, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Chris Huhne has warned that a deal on climate finance is vital to breaking the climate deadlock.

This followed an offer, made at a meeting of the Major Economies Forum (MEF) countries in Rome last month, by Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh to host a two-day ministerial meeting in November that focuses on getting an agreement on sharing clean technologies.

"We want a common position on technology transfer through partnerships in which poor countries are given access to technology and that they can get help with applying it as well," a senior Indian government official has said.

Brazil, South Africa, India and China – called the BASIC group – say countries such as Australia, Canada, and the United States should immediately provide countries like China and India technology to store carbon dioxide emissions underground.

UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon told the New York meeting on July 12 that world leaders must deliver sizable financial support to developing countries to fund their efforts in mitigating and adapting to climate change.

"Climate financing is an investment in a safer, cleaner, more prosperous future for all of us," Ban said. Launched by the secretary-general in February 2010, the advisory group (AGF) seeks to identify long-term financial resources for climate change.

The AGF is also tasked with mobilising delivery of the funds that were pledged at the 2009 Copenhagen conference. There, world leaders agreed to scale up support to reach 100 billion US dollars by 2020 – in addition to 30 billion dollars by 2012.

"Delivery on these pledges is essential, it strengthens trust between developing and developed countries," said Ban. "It is crucial for building positive momentum in the global negotiations."

The advisory group is expected to submit its final recommendations in October. "We are confident we will submit a very robust report," AGF co-chair and Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi told reporters at the press conference.

The report will feed into the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and possibly the India summit, in time for the Conference of the Parties that is set to take place in Cancun, Mexico.

“Helping developing countries tackle climate change is crucial if we are to secure a comprehensive and ambitious deal,” Huhne told the meeting. “Helping developing countries tackle climate change is crucial if we are to secure a comprehensive and ambitious deal. Aside from a moral obligation to help vulnerable countries who have historically contributed little to the problem, it’s also in our own interests to provide practical support."

Chaired by Prime Ministers Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia and Jens Stoltenberg of Norway, the group consists of finance and environment Ministers and economic and finance experts including President Obama’s chief economic advisor Larry Summers, George Soros and Prof Nick Stern.

If you would like further information please contact Shruti Dudhia on Tel:07920 722046 or email: shruti.dudhia@decc.gsi.gov.uk