Accord Finance – Results based mechanism

Briefing paper

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Date produced: 06/06/2010

There has been a great deal of confusion since the Copenhagen Accord was agreed as to what the provisions relating to finance actually mean. In this briefing note, we address the following issues:

a. Whether the wording in paragraph 8 of the Copenhagen Accord binds countries under
international law;

b. whether a “pay by results” approach in developing countries is the correct interpretation of the phrase “transparency on implementation” (para 8 of the Copenhagen Accord); and

c. how, in relation to para 8 of the Copenhagen Accord, the language “the needs of developing countries” should be interpreted. E.g., will developed countries decide what the climate change adaptation/mitigation needs of developing countries are?