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.