'Modest' climate plan approved

2010-12-11 11:48

Cancun, Mexico - The world's governments approved a modest plan on Saturday to combat climate change, including a new fund to help poor nations, despite objections by Bolivia.

"This is a new era of international cooperation on climate change," Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa told delegates at the end of two weeks of talks overshadowed by disputes between rich and poor countries.

The deal comprises a "Green Climate Fund," reaffirms a goal of raising $100bn in aid by 2020 and has measures to protect tropical forests and new ways to share new clean energy technologies.

Espinosa banged down her gavel on the deal despite objections by Bolivia, which said the deal demanded too little of developed nations in cutting greenhouse gases.

- Reuters