Monday, August 24, 2009

Africa to seek billions of dollars in climate change compensation

Peter Heinlein in VOA News: The African Union is considering a proposal to demand at least $67 billion a year in environmental damages from developed countries at the Copenhagen Climate summit in December. Africa is seeking a common position to increase its bargaining power in Copenhagen.

Representatives of several African heads of state met at AU headquarters Monday to determine how much the continent should ask in compensation at the UN climate summit in December. A concept paper obtained by VOA says the flow of money to support 'adaptation to changes in climate' must be at least $67 billion a year by the year 2020.

In all, the paper recommends that developed countries commit to paying one-half percent of Gross Domestic Product, or GDP for 'climate action' in poorer countries. Diplomats attending a closed-door session say several countries argued that the demand should be much higher in view of the severe environmental damage facing the continent.

At the opening ceremony, AU Rural Economy and Agriculture Commissioner Rhoda Peace Tumusiime said Africa is one of the main victims of global warming. "The global carbon trading mechanism that are expected to emerge from international negotiations on climate change should give Africa an opportunity to demand and get compensation for the damage to its economy caused by global warming, bearing in mind the fact that, despite contributing virtually nothing to global warming, Africa has been one of the primary victims of its consequences," she said…..

2 comments:

hope's hopes said...

African leaders will ask rich nations for $67 billion per year to mitigate the impact of global warming on the world’s poorest continent, according to a draft resolution seen by Reuters on Monday.

Ten leaders are holding talks at African Union (AU) headquarters in the Ethiopian capital to try to agree a common stance ahead of a U.N. summit on climate change in Copenhagen in December.

Experts say Africa contributes little to the pollution blamed for warming, but is likely to be hit hardest by the droughts, floods, heatwaves and rising sea levels forecast if climate change is not checked.

The draft resolution, which must still be approved by the 10 leaders, called for rich countries to pay $67 billion annually to counter the impact of global warming in Africa.

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Unknown said...

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Jenifer
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