Fund for UN climate fight disappoints developing nations

Poznan, Poland: Developing nations expressed disappointment at the end of UN climate talks that launched only a tiny fund to help poor countries.

"We are so sad and so disappointed," Colombian Environment Minister Juan Lozano said. An agreement on the Adaptation Fund raised just $80 million.

"The human side of climate change is the suffering of our orphans and our victims and that was not considered here," he said.

Several other nations including Brazil, Costa Rica and Maldives made similar remarks.

Environment ministers at the talks in Poland set rules for the Adaptation Fund, which is meant to help poor nations build flood defences, develop drought-resistant crops, and produce storm warnings.

The fund, among few points agreed at the meeting, has just $80 million but could rise to $300 million a year by 2012.

The developing nations accused the rich of blocking talks on wider funding. The issue was delayed until 2009.