Nairobi — Forget the view of climate change as impending catastrophe for a moment: if negotiators can recognise sustainable agriculture by African smallholders and forests as mitigating factors in climate change, carbon trading could become an important support for Africa's food security.
There's no doubt that climate change is a threat: Africa contributes only 3.8 percent of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, but it will suffer worst impacts of climate change.
This is because of limited mechanisms and resources to mitigate and adapt to this significant change from one climatic condition to another. Examples of adaptation activities include introducing different crops to compensate to local climate change and protection of coastal areas from sea-level rise.
But when the UN Climate Change summit opens in Pozna, Poland on Dec. 1, a delegation from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) will be pushing for changes in the carbon trading market.
"More than four billion people in developing countries around the world who live off agriculture are excluded from this trade and Africa should use this trade to invest in food security which is under threat," COMESA Secretary General, Sindiso Ngwenya told delegates at a meeting earlier this month in Nairobi, Kenya.
How carbon trading works
Carbon trading places limits on emissions at agreed levels; polluters who exceed their assigned limit must buy credits to do so. This is where African farmers can help - if climate-friendly practices in agriculture or preservation of forests are recognised. Polluters in rich countries could then buy offset carbon credits from farmers in Africa.
The global market for carbon emissions is expanding. In 2007, it was estimated to be worth 30 billion dollars - two and a half times the value of average annual aid to Africa.
Delegates to the Nairobi meeting called for the international community to revisit the European Union's Emission Trading Scheme which currently allows European companies to buy carbon credits only from industrial sources but not from forestry, agriculture or "agroforestry" projects.
The sidelining of Africa was based on the belief by developed countries that Africa has too small an industrial base to qualify for carbon credits from industrial emissions.
Food Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) CEO, Dr. Lindiwe Majele Sibanda, urged Africa to speak with one voice in pushing for the inclusion of sustainable agriculture in the carbon trade.
"Unless the successor to the Kyoto Protocol values the contribution that sustainable agriculture can make to the global carbon market, Africa is still outside the fence," said Sibanda.
COMESA has mandated FANRPAN to coordinate the Africa-Wide Civil Society Climate Change Initiative for Policy Dialogues (ACCID). The project equips governments and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to ensure the post Kyoto Protocol includes sustainable agriculture and forestry management.
Continued exclusion, African delegates warned, could undermine efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.
Eric Bettelheim, Executive Chairman of UK-based Sustainable Forestry Management, said developing countries must be paid to keep their remaining forests but the credits could triple the value of existing forests as well as provide a tasty incentive to set more land aside for afforestation programmes.
He estimated that potential annual payment from African agriculture could be around $10 billion from the sale of 500,000 metric tonnes of carbon at $20 per metric tonne.
"This kind of money can transform economies because it is trade not aid," said Bettelheim. "Poor farmers must receive increased payments and productivity or there will be no solution to global warming, no post-2012 treaty and no functioning tropical forest ecosystems by the end of the century."

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This Global Warming Stuff Is A Complete Hoax . Man has so arrogantly told
God, by inference, that God the Creator didnt Create things quite right. The United
Nations is just another attempt by Satan to build another Tower of Babel .
If you want to know some real truth tune in to Alex Jones Infowars broadcast.
You can listen 24 hours a day. Its live for 4 hours and on continuous re-broadcast for the
other 20 hours. Heres a link to articles on the Hoax of Global Warming.
[http://www.scroogle.org/cgi-bin/nbbw.cgi]
What is this hype of Global warming for ? Its designed to give these phony
scientists ( who actually act like they were taking part in the Creation itself ) and the
organizations they represent control of the worlds natural resources. The GEORGIA
GUIDESTONES is consistent with United Nations goals for the world.
Here is a synopsis of the GEORGIA GUIDESTONES :
[The Agenda Of The Antichrist aka The Georgia Guidestones (GG) ]
10 POINTS LIKE THE 10 HORNS OR RELIGIONS OF THE BEAST
[Revelations 13:1]
And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having 7
heads (Kings) and 10 HORNS (Religious Kingdoms), and upon his horns ten crowns, and
upon his heads the name of blasphemy
THE GEORGIA GUIDESTONES
1) MAINTAIN HUMANITY'S POPULATION UNDER 500 MILLION IN
PERPETUAL BALANCE WITH NATURE
2) GUIDE REPRODUCTION WISELY IMPROVING FITNESS AND DIVERSITY
3) UNITE HUMANITY WITH A LIVING NEW LANGUAGE
4) RULE PASSION FAITH TRADITION AND ALL THINGS WITH
TEMPERED REASON
5) PROTECT PEOPLE AND NATIONS WITH FAIR LAWS AND JUST COURTS
6) LET ALL NATIONS RULE INTERNALLY RESOLVING EXTERNAL DISPUTES
IN A WORLD COURT
7) AVOID PETTY LAWS AND USELESS OFFICIALS
8) BALANCE PERSONAL RIGHTS WITH SOCIAL DUTIES.
9) PRIZE TRUTH BEAUTY LOVE SEEKING HARMONY WITH THE
INFINITE
10) BE NOT A CANCER ON THE EARTH LEAVE ROOM FOR NATURE
LEAVE ROOM FOR NATURE
In conclusion the directives for these GEORGIA GUIDESTONES call for : a) b) c) Elimination of around 7 billion residents d) e) f) Control of how many people are born g) h) i) The return of the system of ONE LANGUAGE as it was during the construction j) k) of the TOWER OF BABEL l) m) n) The other goals seem to infer that there isnt currently a choice available to us that o) p) can help us to be better people. And there is a choice. q) r) s) But as the prophecy said in Daniel , The Beast/Antichrist will not allow any other t) u) worship, but of himself.
Global Warming and all this false human-directed unity is designed to appeal to our
personal pride , our lustful flesh and our unsatisfied eyes. But we cant save our
selves. We children need OUR FATHER GOD to fight for us against our evil older
brethren Satan (formerly known as Lucifer) and His Fallen Followers.
CHECK OUT THIS EYE-OPENING VIDEO ON THE SCAM SWINDLE OF GLOBAL WARMING 1) T
HE GREAT GLOBAL WARMING SWINDLE
- URL [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMA6sszChwQ]
Revelations 11:18
And the nations were angry, and your wrath is here, and the time of the dead, that they
should be judged, and that you should give reward to your servants the prophets, and to
the saints, and them that fear your name, small and great; AND SHOULD DESTROY
THEM WHICH DESTROY THE EARTH.
- FEED YOURSELVES SUGGESTION -
WE ARE MAKING HUNDREDS WHILE GIVING AWAY BILLIONS TO OUR ECONOMIC SLAVE MASTERS !!!
THERE IS NO REASON WHY WE CAN'T TAKE CONTROL OF OUR OWN COUNTRY !
NEIGHBORHOOD COOP GREENHOUSES
ANOTHER SUGGESTION IS FOR THOSE LIVING IN THE CITY TO POOL
THEIR RESOURCES TOGETHER AND MAKE NEIGHBORHOOD COOP
GREENHOUSES . HERE YOU CAN GROW SOME KIND OF FOODS AND NOT
BE TOTALLY DEPENDENT ON GROCERY STORES.
Scientists Debunk UN Global Warming [ http://www.infowars.com/scientists-debunk-un-global-warming/ ]
WAKE UP ! STAY UP MY BROTHERS & SISTERS ! BE SELF-SUFFICIENT IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
[http://www.infowars.com/infowars.asx] / [gcnlive.com] / [http://alexjonesringtones.net/]
- Life Is a Game. Have Fun. [ Luke 18:17 / Isaiah 11:6 ]
SO PLEASE WAKE UP MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS. GOD IS ALL WE NEED. You are In My Prayers. God Bless Us. God Bless Africa.