Copenhagen: US backs $100 B a year plan for climate adaptation

Statements Thursday by Hillary Clinton brought new energy to stalled negotiations in Copenhagen. The US Secretary of State assured that the US supports 100 billion US dollars to be provided annually for climate change measures in the developing world by 2020, and that the US is ready to pay its share.

During the night, Ms. Clinton together with heads of state or government from 25 major economies, EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon drafted a text to provide the foundation for the discussions on the conference's final day, Friday.

Clinton's announcement on funding was widely praised.

Yoshiko Kijima, a senior Japanese negotiator, said it sent "a strong signal by Obama (due to arrive in Copenhagen this morning) that he will persuade his own people that we need to show something to developing countries. I really respect that"; Swedish Environment Minister Andreas Carlgren said Clinton added "political momentum"; and India's Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh called it "a good step forward."