Potentially the most import discussion at Doha was the talk of financing the response for climate change.

"The climate change phenomenon has been caused by the industrialization of the developed world. It's only fair and reasonable that the developed world should bear most of the responsibility," said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

2009 UN climate negotiations in Copenhagen, Denmark agreed to a fast-start financing commitment to mobilize US$ 10 billion per year between 2010-2012. With a longer-term pledge to reach an annual target of US$ 100 billion by 2020 to establish a Green Climate Fund was also agreed to.

With no firm funding commitments beyond 2013, developing countries pushed richer nations to scale up climate aid to poor countries to meet the $100 billion annual commitment. But rich nations were generally unwilling to make specific commitments at Doha, citing world financial turmoil and pressure on their budgets.

"The Canadian Government was determined to lead the race to the bottom on the central issue of finance, insisting on holding out for at least 3 more years until they contribute to the Green Climate Fund," said Hannah McKinnon, Climate Action Network Canada Campaigns Director.

The European Union, Australia, Switzerland, Norway and several other industrialized nations did manage to conclude negotiations on a new commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol. However, the second phase only covers about 15 per cent of global emissions after Canada, Japan, New Zealand and Russia opted out. The Unites States is not a signatory to Kyoto.

Countries also failed to move beyond the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction pledges that have been on the table since the Copenhagen conference in 2009.

"Bopha, Sandy, floods in Pakistan, droughts in China... How many reports from the likes of the World Bank, NASA and the International Energy Agency will it take? How many preventable catastrophes until our leaders realize that climate change will not be solved by nice speeches and empty promises? Countries like Canada and the U.S. have promised to reduce their greenhouse gas pollution and provide adequate financial support for developing countries. They have so far failed on both counts," Steven Guilbeault, Deputy Director, Equiterre.