More than 140 heads of state head to Paris today to kick off the most important international climate conference in a generation. “Among the most contentious issues at the Paris summit will be the divide between rich and poor nations. In 2009 in Copenhagen at COP15, or the 15th conference, wealthy countries agreed to contribute $100 billion annually by 2020 to help the poorer, most vulnerable nations adapt to climate change. Developing countries want the monies to flow beyond 2020. Wealthy nations say the private sector, the World Bank and other international financial institutions must step up to provide assistance.
