In 2009 rich countries pledged to provide the developing world with $100billion a year for five years from 2020 to help them adapt to global warming.

       Poorer countries feel they are already suffering from rising sea levels, droughts and extreme weather caused by the emissions of the richer industrialised nations.

       Yesterday the UK's COP26 climate summit presidentdesignate, Alok Sharma, admitted the target is not going to be met until 2023 at the earliest.

       He insisted progress is being made and that over five years the total raised is likely to exceed $500billion.

       Mr Sharma said: "The last set of figures from 2019 were at $80billion…the goal was almost certainly missed in 2020."