Paris talks: US pledges to double aid to climate-hit countries

John Kerry's promise of $861m by 2020 marks final push by the US to reach a global climate deal

The US has promised to double to $861m aid to countries on the frontline of climate change in the final push to reach an agreement to avoid dangerous global warming at crucial UN talks in Paris.

As the negotiations moved into their critical final phase, the White House said the US would deepen its commitment to help low-lying and poor countries that are already threatened by rising seas and powerful storms.