Copenhagen — ZAMBIA has joined the growing list of other least developing countries (LDC)s in registering their disappointment at the apparent lack of meaningful comittment from richer nations to effectively bankroll the global climate change control drive.

And Zambian delegation leader at the COP15, Environment, Tourisim and Natural Resources Minister, Cathrine Namugala on Thursday night addressed the plenary of the joint high-level segment of the conference of parties attended by world leaders where she stressed the need for an effective package for especially the African group.

But with a few hours before the close of this historical conference and the parties still bickering over what correct text to add to the final document, the clear messege emerging from the African group was that of deep disapointment with the anticipated outcome.

The prime mninister of Lesotho, who also speaks on behalf of the LDCs said: "It is an understatement to even say that we are very disappointed, especially with the commitments coming from the the world's most industrialised countries".

He said, however, all hope was not lost and that negotiations would continue at another forum.

Echoing his remarks, Ms Namugala said it was unfortunate that the COP15 would not produce the outcome the world was looking for due to a number of challenges that were presented.

The minister said some developed countries were not willing to proceed with commitments without the inclusion if the US which was just about the most industrialised nation in the world.

US President Barrack Obama, who also addressed the UNFCCC, reiterated his nation's committment to set aside US$10 billion by 2020, but with many strings attatched.

The annex 1 countries were also pressing for China to dissociate itself from the G-77 group because they felt it was not a developing country.

Ms Namugala said the anticipated outcome was a wake-up call for Africa to begin looking within itself and begin dealing with climate issues which afflicted its citizens with renewed zeal.

She said the outcome of the conference was grossly unfair to Africa, and Zambia included, because as Africans, they were not expected to sloe down on development to bring on board climate change adaptation and mitigation measures while the West continued at their accelerated pace of development and had already gone a long way.

"I am disappointed but negotiations do not always go the way you expect them to. Our teams have been working very hard for a long time, and what we were asking for was the bearest minimal. We are saddened and very disppointed," Ms Namugala said.

And in an interview, Chief Imwiko of the Lozi said traditional leaders who were also part of the governance system in Zambia had a very heavy task to pass down information on the effects of climate change and its causes, adding that there was little understanding of the issue.

He said more than 60 per cent of the population of Zambia lived in rural areas and because of the type of energy sources such as firewood, they contributed in a way to Green House gas emmissions.

"It would be irrational to ask villagers who, to a larger extent depend on wood energy to get by, then to ask them not to use these energy sources would be asking for too much without offering alternatives," he said.

He said the effects of climate change were here and it was imperative for traditional leaders to start making a positive change.

And parliamentary committee chairperson for energy and environment, Percy Chanda said it was frustrating because the industrialised nations were being selfish by refusing to commit to their promises going by the Kyoto Protocol.

He warned that there would soon be a catastrophe in the world if the national leaders represented here continued to refuse to be level-headed.

He said there was need to build capacity with the electorate over matters of climate change.

Mr Chanda, who is Kankoyo member of Parliament, said people in the rural areas still believed that there was witchcraft involved when their crops failed when it was the climate phenomena to blame.