Emphasising that "fast-start finance" was a vital part of any "balanced agreement" at the UN climate talks here, India has voiced disappointment over the American contribution of just $1.8 billion so far as part of a $30 billion pledge aimed at helping the poorest countries fight global warming.

"The world's economic machine, the world's preeminent power has committed 1.8 billion dollars in the first year (of a three-year commitment period of USD 30 billion) ...Out of which 400 million gives export credit," Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh told reporters after here last evening for the climate talks.

"It is deeply deeply deeply disappointing," he said. "If the United States is going to commit just USD 1.8 billion in the first year it doesn't augur well for fast-start finance," Ramesh said.

The contentious climate meeting in Denmark last year yielded the non-binding Copenhagen Accord, which called for limiting rise of global temperature to 2 degrees, USD 100 billion in long-term finance to developing countries and USD 30 billion in short-term finance to the most vulnerable countries.

The Americans have said that they can only announce figures one year at a time since US Congress needs to approve the budget for every year.

Ramesh underlined that one of the reasons that the BASIC countries -- Brazil, India, China and South Africa -- had agreed to the Copenhagen Accord with the United States was the fast-start finance.

The BASIC countries, however, are not candidates for money but could still receive the funds through different bilateral deals and other schemes like the forest saving programme such as REDD+.

"The single biggest disappointment for me has been fast-start finance," Ramesh said.

"The only solid money we can have clarity on is the 4 million dollars that has been committed for the REDD+ Unless that is rectified it is unlikely we will get a balanced package (at the Cancun meet)," he said.