Are developed countries responsible for climate change?

In 2009, the world's developed countries committed to mobilizing US$100 billion per year by 2020 to help poor countries cope with climate change. Since then, this commitment has become an important test of developed countries’ determination to do their part in curbing global warming. Reaching the $100 billion target is important. Poor countries must trust that developed countries will deliver on their promises. Otherwise, the prospect of reaching an effective international agreement at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris in December will be in jeopardy. Fortunately, there are encouraging signs that this promise will be kept. But this requires greater financial flows, especially from the private sector. According to data from the OECD and the Climate Policy Initiative, developed countries mobilized a total of US$52.2 billion and US$61.8 billion respectively in 2013 and 2014 to help poor countries reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience to the inevitable climate change. It is important to note that this figure on the capacity for change to impact is only an estimate, but it is a preliminary but credible climate finance indicator based on information provided by developed countries.