Africa to speak tough - Sherry Ayittey

To Ask For Transparency, Accountability, Commitment from Developed
Nations
Source: Daily Democrat, Emmanuel
Opare Djan,Durban Courtesy:Mest,Epa


The leader of Ghana’s delegation to the United Nation
Framework convention on Climate change (UNCCC) (COP17) conference in Durban,
South Africa, Ms. Sherry Ayittey, who is also the Minister for Environment,
Science and Technology has stated that Ghana’s common objective and that of
other Africa countries at the conference is to save the world and make it more
climate change resilient.
She indicated that African will speak with one voice to
register the severe impact of climate change the continent is experiencing by
outlining the Africa Ministers’ common position for Annex 1 countries to be more
responsible towards the fight of climate change menace during negotiations to
alleviate the drastic effect.
The negotiations which come to a climax on Friday, 9th
December, 2011 will see Africa presenting a common and tough position to
salvage the continent from climate change realities.
She noted, African Governments have responsibility to
protect citizens from the harsh impact by asking developed countries to commit
more resources into climate change to address the issue appropriately.
‘Africa will not accept political pledges without legal
commitment form the annex one (1) countries towards this cause because they are
heavy emitters of atmospheric gases’
‘It is fair and proper for developed countries to recognize
the drastic impact the economic industrialization process has brought to the
environment by allocating adequate resources to make the world a better place for
all to live’. We have a common
responsibility of ownership to the environment and obligation to generations
unborn whom we are holding the earth in trust for. She added
According to her, Africa is the hardest hit by this
self-inflicted monster, retarding the socio-economic development of the people
through rise in temperature, high sea rise levels, drought, floods and loss of
vegetation making agriculture and water targets and more important Women and
children vulnerable to hunger and
poverty.
Africa leaders in Bamako,Mali reached a consensus to take a common position
and speak with one voice to extend the
Kyoto agreement commitment for a second period for industrialize countries to
fulfill the tenents of the Kyoto protocol agreement.
The position of Africa ministers in the ongoing negotiations
at cop 17 in Durban will be first to push for the extension of the Kyoto
protocol agreement for a second commitment period to compel annex 1 countries
to reduce their high emission levels in
the atmosphere without any commitment to
Africa countries.
Annex one (1) countries must demonstrate their
responsibility to mitigate predicted temperature rise and work to reduce it by
5-7 degrees centigrade during the second commitment level.
The target of the first commitment period was 14% but annex one
countries could only achieved 10%.
Developed countries would be challenged also to adopt more
transparent and sustain means of supporting climate change funding with a
predictable and additional sources of funding like contributing about 1.5% of
GDP to support adaptation and mitigation programmes.
Another critical area Africa Minister will not compromise is
the issue of climate change funding accountability. They would push for more
transparency in its disbursement and also asked for equal representation in the
management of the funds.
They would also put a strong resistance against sourcing of
climate change fund by private sector players direct.
She said the Cancun meeting helped to establish the climate
change fund but the COP17 is to establish the faith of the Kyoto protocol which
binds parties to reduce emission level by 14% but are able to only 10%.
However, sources within the annex 1 countries suggest that
Africa will not have its way without strings. It is anticipated that Japan, US,
UK want to classified funding to Africa
as climate change support mechanism with
U.k even proposing to consider loans to developing countries as part of its climate
change commitment.
Africa negotiators are optimistic to push Africa’s agenda
despite these obstacles and emerging threats from Japan, Canada, Austria and
Russia to walk out of negotiations if the Kyoto agreement is extended for a
second commitment period.