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Africa seeks climate change cash | Africa seeks climate change cash |
(about 2 hours later) | |
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. | |
They are expected to renew demands for billions of dollars in compensation for Africa because of damage caused by global warming. | They are expected to renew demands for billions of dollars in compensation for Africa because of damage caused by global warming. |
And they are likely to ask rich nations to cut emissions by 40% by 2012. | And they are likely to ask rich nations to cut emissions by 40% by 2012. |
African nations are among the lightest polluters but analysts say they will suffer the most from climate change. | African nations are among the lightest polluters but analysts say they will suffer the most from climate change. |
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. | 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. |
'Dismal co-ordination' | 'Dismal co-ordination' |
Kenya's environment secretary, Alice Kaudia, told the BBC that the continent had to learn from other countries' mistakes. | Kenya's environment secretary, Alice Kaudia, told the BBC that the continent had to learn from other countries' mistakes. |
"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. | "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 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 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." |
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 | 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 |
One of the documents prepared for the meeting refers to the "dismal co-ordination" of the African negotiation process. | One of the documents prepared for the meeting refers to the "dismal co-ordination" of the African negotiation process. |
So far, delegations from individual countries have had limited success in making the case that Africa needs special help to cope with climate change. | 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. | 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. |
Delegates from powerhouses South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya are among those expected to attend. | Delegates from powerhouses South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya are among those expected to attend. |
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 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | But African leaders will be hoping that by speaking with one voice at Copenhagen, their negotiating position can be significantly enhanced. |