A newly formed climate change ‘troika' urged developed countries to deliver on their pledges made in Copenhagen on ‘fast-start' financing to be made available to developing countries.

The troika, which was established between the governments of Denmark, Mexico and South Africa, said that fast-start financing was important to spur action and to build trust.

The 2009 Copenhagen Accord articulated the political will to combat climate change, and accepted the scientific view that global warming should be kept below 2 ºC. It also stated that developed countries committed to providing funding to developing nations, reaching $30-billion for the period from 2010 to 2012, with a goal of mobilising $100-billion a year by 2020 to assist developing countries.

The troika was established on September 24, to ensure continuity in the climate change negotiations.

Danish Minister of Climate and Energy and Gender Equality Lykke Friis, Mexican Foreign Affairs Secretary Patricia Espinosa, and South African Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica undertook to jointly provide leadership in the negotiations and push consensus towards a globally acceptable agreement.

Denmark hosted the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change convention of the parties (COP) in 2009, Mexico would host the negotiations in December, while South Africa would host the seventeenth COP in 2011.

While many hoped for global consensus and legally binding agreements on climate change at COP15 in Copenhagen, this did not happen.

Hopes were once again high for progress at the December 2010 COP16 in Cancun, however, it was widely held that legally binding agreements would not be reached in Mexico, and this would more likely occur in South Africa in 2011.

Cooperation through the troika aimed at providing continuity and strengthening the ongoing climate negotiations by providing leadership and guidance in the negotiation process.

The troika called upon all parties to contribute to substantive progress during the upcoming COP16 in Cancun.

"The troika firmly believes that by means of a joint effort and renewed commitment in the negotiations, a broad and balanced package of decisions could be agreed upon at COP16 which will lead to immediate action. A constructive momentum can be obtained during COP16 and last beyond," said the leaders.

Further, the troika stressed the need for substantial progress in the imminent sessions of the ad hoc Working Groups, to be held in Tianjin, China from October 4, 2010.