Minister for the environment, Phil Hogan, has proposed adding the funding to this year’s fast start finance commitment.

The drive aims to help the least developed countries tackle the effects of climate change.

Mr Hogan said it was important the Irish people remembered their responsibilities to the developing world, despite the country’s own economic woes.

He said: “In spite of our very difficult economic circumstances at home, we cannot forget that it is the people of the developing world – who contributed least to global warming – that are first to suffer its punishing impacts; they are on the immediate climate frontline.

“As I prepare to travel to the Durban climate conference, I am determined that Ireland should demonstrate its continuing solidarity with the least developed countries in their efforts to tackle the effects of climate change. The additional contribution of 10m euro which I am now proposing provides tangible evidence of this determination.”

Mr Hogan said the plans still needed Government approval, which he will seek this week.

Ireland’s aims to put 100m euros into a European wide fund and has, to date, delivered 66m euros.

This includes a contribution of 23m euros from the minister’s department in 2010 to the Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA) established by the European Commission in 2007.

Luke Walsh

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