Africa urges developed nations to help tackle climate change
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E-mail Xinhua, December 3, 2015
"Rwanda will go to Paris calling for greater action on climate change and for more and better financing for vulnerable nations. We will also share our experience in implementing innovative environment conservation programs and work with international partners to mobilize resources," Rwandan Natural Resources Minister Vincent Biruta said.
He said the ultimate objective is to reach an agreement that prevents the impacts of climate change and supports poor countries to respond and adapt to a warming planet.
"As a party to the UN (Framework) Convention on Climate Change, our expectation from Paris is to come up with a new agreement that enables all countries to combat climate change effectively and that accelerates the transition toward low-carbon societies and economies," Biruta said.
"The suggestion that Africa get paid for not polluting is double edged in that it implies delay of economic growth while serving as a big absorption sponge for exported pollution," said Macharia, the lecturer with USIU in Nairobi.
This, however, can be mitigated by intensified use of clean energy in big power industries so as to reduce global pollution, Macharia said, appealing developed countries to "assist Africa to industrialize through clean energy and technologically advanced ecology-friendly systems."
Cooperation with China
China, the largest developing country in the world, has expressed hopes that "a powerful, ambitious and legally binding deal" can be reached at the Paris conference on the basis of equity and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.
While advocating coordinated actions in face of global warming, China has called on the rich nations to live up to their promises on funding and technology transfer to help the poor ones.
"Climate change is a global challenge at which no country can stand on their own. Developed and developing countries have different historical responsibilities for climate change, and different development needs and capabilities," Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a written interview with Reuters in October.
Ali Mohamed, a senior advisor to the Kenyan Presidency on climate change, said Nairobi considers Beijing as a strategic partner in advancing green agenda and sustainable development in the country.
"We have initiated a number of bilateral pacts with China that focus on environmental sustainability, trade and technology transfer. Kenya looks up to China to help implement a national climate strategy through adoption of clean technologies," Mohamed told Xinhua.
At the ceremony to launch the fourth annual sustainability report by Kenya's leading mobile phone company Safaricom, Mohamed said China has been a source of expertise and innovations that have advanced the green agenda in his country.
"China is a leading source of solar technologies that have been embraced by local communities as we move away from carbon emitting energy sources," Mohamed said.
China-Kenya bilateral environment cooperation has focused on capacity development and skills transfer to strengthen the conservation of ecosystems.
Mohamed said Chinese investments in renewable energy and modern transport infrastructure has contributed immensely to the green agenda and poverty reduction in Kenya.
"China has been instrumental in accelerating our transition to clean energy through investments in mega geothermal projects. A partnership between Chinese and local firms has facilitated assembling of solar panels in the country," said Mohamed.
He added that Chinese-funded infrastructure projects such as the construction of a standard gauge railway will help reduce carbon emissions in the transport sector.
Kenyan green advocates support robust cooperation with China to boost the war against climate change.
Wangari Maathai, chairperson of the Green Belt Movement, said China has revitalized the global green agenda through technology transfer and mass production of solar panels.
"As a country, we have an opportunity to learn and domesticate China's model of shifting away from fossil fuels that are to blame for rising carbon emissions," Maathai said.
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