The European Union’s environment chief challenged developing countries on Thursday to agree at the Copenhagen climate summit in December to rein in their emissions growth in return for greater financial aid.

Stavros Dimas, the environment commissioner, set out the conditions as he unveiled the European Commission’s long-awaited financing proposal, under which the EU would contribute anywhere from €2bn ($3bn, £1.7bn) to €15bn per year to developing countries, including China, India and South Africa.