Poor to get funds to fight global warming

Delegates at a UN climate conference in Poznan, Poland, said they have agreed to unblock millions of euro to help poor countries cope with the effects of climate change.

The agreement was one of the main achievements of negotiators who hope to agree on a new climate change treaty by next December.

Mozaharul Alam of Bangladesh said government ministers have recognised the legal right to operate a climate change fund that now has about $60m (€44.7m).

Until now, the fund could not operate because its board had no right to sign contracts.

Mr Alam said today it could still take up to a year before money is distributed to poor nations.