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Africa leaders hold climate talks Africa seeks climate change cash
(about 16 hours later)
The leaders of 10 African countries are gathering in Ethiopia to try and agree a common position on climate change. Ministers from 10 African countries are meeting in Ethiopia to try to agree a common position on climate change, months before a crucial UN meeting.
The summit comes ahead of crucial UN talks in Copenhagen in December. They are expected to renew demands for billions of dollars in compensation for Africa because of damage caused by global warming.
Under the auspices of the African Union, the meeting will underline the chief African demand for compensation for damages caused by global warming. And they are likely to ask rich nations to cut emissions by 40% by 2012.
The move to agree a common negotiating platform for Africa is a recognition of the failure of the continent to make its voice heard to date. African nations are among the lightest polluters but analysts say they will suffer the most from climate change.
One of the documents prepared for the meeting talks about the "dismal co-ordination" of the African negotiation process. BBC science reporter Matt McGrath says the move to agree a common negotiating platform for Africa recognises the continent's failure to make its voice heard on the debate.
Strong stance 'Dismal co-ordination'
So far, delegations from individual countries have had limited success in making the case that Africa needs special help as it has the lowest emissions of carbon dioxide on the planet, but is set to suffer the worst impacts. Kenya's environment secretary, Alice Kaudia, told the BBC that the continent had to learn from other countries' mistakes.
In an attempt to change this, the African Union is bringing together the leaders of 10 countries under the chairmanship of Libya's Muammar Gaddafi. "One single country will not solve its environmental problems on its own, it will need partners, and that's why it's very important that there's that unified common position," she said.
The objective is to agree a set of key ideas on the way forward on climate for Africa so that the continent can be represented by one delegation at the global negotiations in Copenhagen in December. African interests have not always received the attention they needed in the UN climate process class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/richardblack/">Earth watch: Africa re(de)fines the climate dialogue
Proposals for discussion include the suggestion that developed countries should cut their emissions by at least 40% by 2020, and that the richer nations should provide funds of $67bn (£40bn) a year to help the least well off cope with the impacts of rising temperatures. "The development of Africa should not go alongside the same mistakes that the developed world already made - to have these high emissions that are now affecting the whole world."
The reality of the UN climate negotiations is that the US, China, India and the European Union have the greatest sway. One of the documents prepared for the meeting refers to the "dismal co-ordination" of the African negotiation process.
The African leaders will be hoping that speaking with one voice at Copenhagen will significantly enhance their negotiating position. So far, delegations from individual countries have had limited success in making the case that Africa needs special help to cope with climate change.
The "representatives and experts" of African Union (AU) leaders - who include environment and agriculture ministers from the 10 countries - are meeting in Addis Ababa under Libyan chairmanship in an attempt to change this.
Kenyan environmentalist Wangari Maathai, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, said all African leaders should support the AU's efforts to form a clear message.
But she said Africa too had its responsibilities.
"We are all hoping we will develop and attain a higher quality of life, so there has to be a very serious commitment on the part of Africa that we will not be opting for development patterns that will reverse whatever other countries are trying to do," she said.
Kyoto replacement
Delegates from powerhouses South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya are among those attending the AU conference.
HAVE YOUR SAYWe're all suffering at the moment, we all have obligations to the environment, we all need to take more responsibility. Why is Africa, yet again, a special case?Malcolm Orton Send us your comments
They will discuss a suggestion that developed countries should cut emissions by at least 40% by 2020, and that richer nations should provide $67bn (£40bn) a year to help the least well-off cope with rising temperatures.
They will also attempt to agree a set of key ideas in order to help national delegations to the UN negotiations in Copenhagen this December to present a co-ordinated position.
The Copenhagen conference will try to negotiate a replacement for the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, elements of which expire in 2012.
Correspondents say the US, China, India and the EU will have the greatest sway at the UN conference.
But African leaders will be hoping that by speaking with one voice at Copenhagen, their negotiating position can be significantly enhanced.