Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Addis Ababa: Africa prepares for Climate Change meet in Durban

(16 November 2011, Addis Ababa)--Africa hopes to make significant gains from the forthcoming world climate change conference to be held in a few weeks' time in Durban, South Africa.

Leaders and representatives from various African countries are attending a one day Meeting of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) in Addis Ababa, which will draft the continent's common position at the conference.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, the CAHOSCC coordinator, was re-elected as a spokesperson for Africa on climate issues after representing the continent at the Copenhagen and Cancun conferences.

CAHOSCC was established in 2009 by the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government to spearhead the African Common Position on Climate Change and to ensure that the continent speaks with one voice in global climate change negotiations.

"As mandated by the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea in July 2011, the CAHOSCC meeting will consider the key messages reviewed and refined by the Special Session of the African Ministerial Council on Environment (AMCEN) held in Bamako, Mali in September 2011," the commission said.

Africa has demanded that a significant amount of money be given to the continent in the form of compensation
The meeting is expected to deliberate on the state of the global climate change negotiations and chart strategies for Africa's effective participation.

According to the AU, CAHOSCC will appraise and provide guidance on the ongoing preparatory work towards the Durban conference.

Chairperson of the African union (AU) Commission, Jean Pin, said Africa would make significant gains at the Durban conference.

"We look forward to your continued guidance and especially at this time as Africa braces itself for effective participation in global climate change negotiations in Durban, South Africa where we all hope that Africa will make significant gains in terms of the interests as articulated in Africa's common position," Ping said.

Africa has demanded that a significant amount of money be given to the continent in the form of compensation for environmental damages caused by developed countries.

Africa has also asked developed countries to cut their carbon emissions by 40 percent by 2012 and to help the continent to tackle the effects of climate change across the continent.

"We all agree that Durban must deliver a major step of forward in international climate negotiations. "For this, Africa should speak with one voice in articulating its demands," Ping said. The Durban conference will take place between November 28 and December 9.
Source: The Africa Report

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