Environment group Milieudefensie and the ICCO development organisation are pleased with Environment Minister Jacqueline Cramer. The ANP news agency reports that, during an informal meeting with European colleagues in Sweden at the weekend, she came forward with estimated costs for poor countries to deal with climate change.

She believes developing countries will need over 70 billion euros per year by 2020 to cover the cost of environmental measures. The two organisations have welcomed her statement, saying the Netherlands has shown that it is aware of the enormity of the climate change problem. They hope the Dutch minister can win over her EU colleagues to similar views.

photo: Jacqueline Cramer (ANP)