Africa betrayed at Copenhagen meet

17th December 2009EmailPrintComments Ethiopian PM justifies fund scaleback for reliable flows


Copenhagen Bella Center where the United Nations Climate Change Conference is held.
African negotiators at the Climate Change meeting here yesterday woke up to a surprise when some of their colleagues unilaterally decided to compose a text for presentation to the COP 15 Presidency contrary to earlier agreement.

Cited as the Joint Appeal of France and Ethiopia, representing Africa, for an Ambitious Copenhagen Accord, the text read that the two launch an appeal to all parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to adopt an ambitious agreement on December 18 limiting the increase of temperatures to 2C above compared to pre-industrial times as recommended by the IPCC, and ensuring that vulnerable countries will receive adequate financing to face the challenge.

“This is ridiculous,” lashed out a delegate from Tanzania.

“Since when has France represented Africa in the climate change negotiations? And this temperature increase; we had agreed the increase to be 1.5C and not what is written in this text,” he said, obviously angered by the unprecedented twist of events. Ethiopia is the Chair for Africa Climate Change negotiations.

The Guardian has further learnt that initially the African countries had pushed for the adoption of a “fast-start” fund of 600 billion US dollars per year covering the next three years—2010, 2011 and 2012 but well placed sources said France and Ethiopia have cut the figure to 10 billion US dollars for the next three years, way below the required amount.

Visibly furious about the U-turn engineered by Ethiopia and France, some of the African negotiators who spoke to this newspaper on condition of anonymity said the draft document indicated that 40 per cent of the fund should be dedicated to adaptation in Africa while the agreement was 50 per cent of the fund.

“We don’t understand what’s happening. Everybody is totally confused at this turn of events,” fumed one of the African delegates.

Speaking at the U.N. climate talks, the Ethiopian PM Zenawi referring to the changes admitted: "I know my proposal today will disappoint some Africans. My proposal scales back our expectation with respect to the level of funding in return for more reliable funding," he said.

Zenawi supported $100 billion annual funds by 2020 from rich nations to help the developing world fight climate change.

When asked for a response, Chinese negotiators said they could not comment directly on the figure but expressed backing for the stance of African nations.

"China has always been supportive of the developing countries strong position and just demands on the financing issue," said Climate Change Ambassador Yu Qingtai.

China has already said it does not expect to be the first in line for any funds from the rich world. Yu's comments suggested that Beijing would not stand in the way of a deal backed by most of the developing world.

The European Union has previously proposed rich nation funds by 2020 of about $150 billion. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has spoken of $100 billion.

U.S. chief climate envoy Todd Stern declined immediate comment on the African proposal -- "I have heard there is one (proposal on finance) but I haven't seen the details yet so we will be interested in looking at it."

Zenawi said funding to help the developing world prepare for climate change and curb carbon emissions should start by 2013, reaching "up to $50 billion per annum by 2015 and $100 billion per annum by 2020."

"No less than 50 per cent should be allocated to adaptation to vulnerable and poor countries and regions such as African and small islands states."

The Catholic development group CAFOD said Zenawi had gone too far with his compromise.

"At this late stage of the negotiations, this figure being tabled by Africa is disappointing to say the least," said Liz Gallagher, CAFOD's climate finance specialist, adding the Africa group earlier this week had demanded $400 billion per year.

Rich countries could raise the funds using a wide range of mechanisms, including taxes on shipping and jet fuel or sales of emissions rights, said Zenawi -- hinting Africa would not insist on public money.

Developing countries have so far insisted that funds should come from public sources, something that recession-hit, industrialised countries have rejected saying only the private sector can raise the sums required.

The draft document, seen by ‘The Guardian’, states that a high-level group composed of developed and developing countries’ experts will bring forward recommendations with a preliminary report to be presented no later than the next G20 summit in Canada, and its final report no later that the November 2010 G20 summit in Korea.

“The G20 summits have nothing to do with the Copenhagen climate change negotiations. It is ridiculous,” said the shocked African delegates. The situation has seriously angered some delegates because some of them spent the whole Tuesday night working on “the official document” only to be frustrated by the new version.

Meanwhile, the Danish President of the U.N. Climate Conference, Connie Hedegaard, has resigned and will be replaced by the Danish Prime Minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, as head of the historic talks.

The change was announced yesterday as the 193-nation conference enters a higher phase of negotiations, with 115world leaders arriving by Thursday.

U.N. Climate Chief Yvo de Boer said Hedegaard will continue to lead informal talks but Prime Minister Rasmussen will now be the formal head of the conference.

Hedegaard says it's appropriate for Rasmussen to preside with so many heads of state and government taking part.


SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN