The final total of the combined financial contributions made by the European Union and its member states in 2016 to help developing countries cope with the effects of climate change was finally announced by the Council of the EU on Tuesday 17 October, at the same time as the pre-COP 23 ministerial meeting (17-18 October) was taking place in Nadi, Fiji. That sum was €20.2 billion.
The EU will travel to COP 23 (Bonn, 16-17 November) in a fine state of mind, this figure being a significant...