Lucas Barasa
26 August 2008
Nairobi — A conference on climate change has started in Nairobi with calls on African countries to stop relying on development aid.
Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetang'ula has said research has shown no country has developed through aid.
Instead, he told more than 100 Members of Parliament from Africa, Europe Japan and the United States to champion for promotion of trade with developing countries on equal terms.
On climate change, Mr Wetang'ula cited Lake Victoria and Lake Chad as among those whose existence has been threatened by disruption of forests.
"Industrialised countries should agree to stop green house emissions even as we urge our people in the villages to stop cutting trees."
He said that Lake Victoria has sunk 60 metres in the past ten years.
The minister called on African countries to diversify food production and stop over-reliance on cereals to end food shortage.
He said climate change was a major threat to people in Africa and called on MPs to pass punitive laws on those who destroy the environment
The four-day conference involves parliamentarians from across Africa and experts from Europe and Japan.
It will examine crucial questions of climate change and food security as well as aid effectiveness ahead of high-level forum in Accra in September.
The Nairobi conference is organised by the association of European Parliament in conjunction with the Pan African Parliament, the East Africa Legislative Assembly and the Kenyan Parliament.
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