In an attempt to push Europe to a leading position on climate change and spur further action at the Copenhagen climate talks, British Prime Minster Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Zarkozy announced contributions to a fund developed to help third world nations cope with climate change that could reach $9 billion dollars from the EU over the next 3 years.

The so-called fast start fund is designed to run from now until 2012 and the hope is that the contribution will build some much needed credibility for industrialized countries.  Major complaints from under developed nations have always been aimed at developed countries, questioning their commitment to fighting climate change and feeling that poorer nations are expected to lose out on economic development without support from the first world.

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