Launch of African Climate Solution

(PANA)-A grouping of 26 African countries in East, Central and Southern Africa Wednesday launched ‘The African Climate Solution’ at the UN climate change talks in Poznan, Poland, to address issues relating to climate change.

The African Climate Solution entails the reduction of green house gas emissions by forest resources (REDD) and carbon sequestration through agriculture, forestry and land use (AFOLU) in Africa and throughout the developing world.

Sindiso Ngwenya, Secretary General of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), who spoke at the launch of the Africa Climate Solution, said ‘this initiative is African in origin but is intended to include all developing nations. ‘We all face the same problem of dealing with climate change and sustainable development. We are seeking the support of countries in Asia, Latin America and Small Island States to ensure that not only Africa’s voice but that of the world’s poor and excluded will be heard loud and clear in articulating solutions for mitigation and adaptation measures on climate change.’

The COMESA top official warned that any delays in recognising Africa’s potential contribution to adaptation and mitigation measures on climate change would reverse gains in sustainable development. ‘It is no longer a question of if, or of when, Africa should be and will be part and parcel of a post–Kyoto Protocol regime,’ Ngwenya said. The African Climate Solution calls for the expansion of eligibility of resources beyond REDD to include the full range of bio-carbon in the climate change negotiations.

Africa is leading a high-level delegation to the UN climate change conference in Poznan comprising representatives from organisations representing farmers, the private sector, the research community, civil society development, partners and banks. The two-week Poznan conference that began 1 December, is negotiating a new global climate change deal to be clinched in Copenhagen, Denmark, at the end of 2009.

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