Addis Ababa — Ethiopian PM Meles Zenawi wants the rich nations to compensate Africa and help the continent in the climate change adaptation projects.
Mr Meles told to reporters he was demanding unconditional financial support because of the Western nation's pollution of the African environment.
Mr Meles, who has championed the issue of climate justice since last year, demanded $60-80 billion compensation for Africa from the polluters.
He plans to take the appeal to the G8 (richest nations) summit next month in Italy.
Mr Meles noted that Africa should claim its right in the upcoming United Nations Climate Change deal in Copenhagen, Denmark at the end of the year.
"In Copenhagen, Africa should ask for compensation, and for assistance for adaptation," Mr Meles said.
Africa was left behind and has not participated fully in the serving Kyoto Protocol, which was ratified in 1997. The protocol mostly represents the interests of the rich nations.
The Kyoto deal will expire in 2012.
The post-Kyoto regime negotiation would start at the upcoming Copenhagen summit and Africa Union-led preparation was underway.
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There is no proof that global warming is man made so no nation should be getting anything. Climate change occurs naturally. If anyone should be paying out money, it should be all the companies that knowingly dumped toxic chemicals on the Earth. Don't punish the honest tax payers. Africa needs to get their crap together and stop being a welfare nation.
Developing countries in general and African nations in particular, while contributing little to global warming and environmental polution, are paying their undue/unfair share for the wrongs of the industrialized (Western) world. Viewed in this context, the argument of the Ethiopian PM sounds both reasonable and quite valid which, in the short to medium term, should also incorporate a call for relative flexibility and freedom for third world countries to draft and implement appropriate environmental policies of relevance to their background realities. I believe the PMs' quest for "compensation for adaptation," and "for assistance for mitigation" is an outstanding issue of relevance that merits the support of leaders of all African (and/or all developing) nations.
PM Meles wants the rich to pay for global warming. He and his government by imposing huge taxes on new cars and forcing people to import out of dated cars with out emission control has damaged the atmosphere of the cities. Who is he to demand others what they should do when he is to blame for? for most of the problem that is crippling the country? No water conservation in site, only relay for rain that is unpredictable. As a responsible head of estate he should prioritise feeding his country men, women and children instead of exporting scares food to other countries while begging the international community for help to feed a starving people.
There was time when western leaders listened to Mr Meles, but not after the 2005 crack down. He is barely tolerable and no one takes him seriously, he should realise that by now.
This is a very good article and it is a very good details..................... Awesome article.............
---------------- GirishLaikhra ---------------- Lawyer--Lawyer
All Problems in Africa now, are the cause of heartless, greedy, inhuman, barbaric nature of CAPITALISM imPosed on Africans by some aliens who were supposed to be *friends* as they Presented their ugly faces during their first visit. This is a new generation of Africans, we must let these aliens know who we are and nothing of such should occur again in our soil, the enviable land that exist no where in the world again. thanks to the Lion of Africa in Zimbabwe for his bravery in land reforms Program. I also hoPe Zuma will be another Lion like his forefather, Shaka of the Zulu Kingdom who did not trust these aliens since the genesis of the settlement of them in the land of God, AFRIKA. PM Meles Zenawi is in the right direction. Kudos.