Archived press release

Africa fails to address key problem of climate change

11 March 2005

The Commission for Africa report, published today (Friday) fails to address the key issue of tackling climate change in relation to development, Friends of the Earth said today. The group added that without such an integrated approach, development across the continent will continue to falter [1].

While Our Common Interest recognises climate change as being a "particular worry", it fails to offer strong recommendations to assist Africa in dealing with the impacts of climate change already being felt [2]. Instead the report recommends that donors should give in the region of US$100m over the coming 10 years to improve climate observation, through the Global Climate Observing System, and build capacity in African research institutions.

The report does identify western developed countries as the key global polluters, most responsible for climate change, but Friends of the Earth said it does not go far enough in urging action from these countries, only encouraging targets for greater use of `new cleaner energy technologies'.

Friends of the Earth's International Climate Campaigner Catherine Pearce said:

"Changes in our climate pose a devastating threat to much of the African continent, but the Commission fails to demand an adequate response from the wealthy nations which have contributed to this problem. The G8 has the potential to address this issue when it meets later this year and these countries must take this opportunity to commit to reducing their domestic greenhouse gas emissions and help to prevent climate change undermining Africa's development."

"The report recommends spending vast amounts of donors' money on investing in climate observational systems, but we already know that climate change is going to be a serious problem for people in Africa. Some of the affected countries need assistance and money now in order to cope with changes already being felt. Successful development for Africa which will bring its people out of dire poverty needs to integrate tackling climate change as part of its policies."

The report also recommends that from 2008, donors should make climate variability and climate change risk factors an integral part of their project planning and assessment, and that they should meet their commitments on funding to help African countries to adapt to the risks of climate change.

Notes

[1] Our Common Interest, Commission for Africa, Friday 11^th March 2005

[2] For more details on adaptation see Up in Smoke,The Working Group on Climate Change and Development www.neweconomics.org/gen/z_sys_publicationdetail.aspx?pid=196

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust