US and Italy aim to increase financial contributions to fight climate change

US and Italy aim to increase financial contributions to fight climate change

The US and Italy plan to increase their financial contributions to help developing countries fight climate change, officials told the Financial Times on the eve of the G20 environment ministers in Naples.

Rome, which is hosting the G20, and Washington are seeking to heal a growing rift between rich and poor countries over climate finance, an issue that threatens to derail the UN COP26 summit in Glasgow in November.

US climate envoy John Kerry and Italian energy transition minister Roberto Cingolani told the FT in separate interviews that they wanted to boost their climate donations ahead of the COP summit.

"It's imperative that we do something [on climate finance]," said Kerry. "I've told that to President [Joe] Biden, he's completely on board."

Cingolani said Italy would also increase its contributions and this was an important part of its climate policy.

The G20 environment ministers' meeting on Thursday, usually a low-key affair, is this year seen as a key leading indicator for the potential outcomes and controversies ahead of climate change talks this autumn. 

The G20 includes some countries that have set ambitious climate goals, such as the EU, and others that have resisted setting emissions targets, such as Saudi Arabia, Russia and Australia "” making it