Africa will make a requisition for $50 billion as compensation for carbon emissions from developed countries at the ongoing climate change summit in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Sources said on Tuesday in Abuja that Ethiopian Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, would present Africa’s position on December 18.
“Africa is the worst hit when it comes to global emission. We are going to Copenhagen with one voice ; our position is that the developed countries should pay us 50 billion dollars in the short term.
“Our requisition also is that in 2015, the compensation should be increased to 250 billion dollars,’’ one of the sources added.
It pointed out that Africa, which generated only four per cent of the global carbon emission, was the hardest hit, and “that is why the issue of compensation is justified’’.
The source further explained that the decision to ask for compensation was part of the recommendations made by the African Union Presidential Committee of 10, including Nigeria.
According to the source, the major challenges facing the continent included the adaptation and mitigation of the effects of climate change.
“Apart from funding, we are also seeking for technology transfer to enable us change from our obsolete technology,’’ another source said.
Justifying Africa’s position, the source said the continent had suffered devastation in the past decades, adding that climate change would further compound the situation.
“Take Nigeria for instance, which has nearly 150 million people, majority of who depend on agriculture ; the direct negative impact of climate change will further worsen the poverty situation in the country.
“Once agriculture is affected, poverty will be intensified,’’ the source added.
Scientists have described the Copenhagen conference as the current most important event in the world.
Nearly 15,000 delegates and 100 world leaders are expected at the summit, which started on Monday, over the next two weeks.
The meeting is expected to come up with a deal that will supplant the Kyoto Protocol, signed in 1997, which sought to help developing countries deal with the negative effects of climate change.
A delegation of 251 Nigerians, including journalists, is attending the summit.
Source African Press Agency
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