Rich countries call on African bloc to keep climate talks on track

Poor countries forced to make a stand over lack of commitment from rich nations on emissions cuts, claims African delegate
John Vidal in Barcelona
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 4 November 2009 17.27 GMT
Rich countries today piled pressure on Africa not to derail climate talks after the poorest countries in the world shocked the UN by walking out of the official negotiations, demanding that their concerns be met.
The chair of the Africa group of nations, Kamel Djemouai, was recalled from Barcelona by the Algerian government and other African delegations reportedly received "strong" phone calls from their capitals urging them not to imperil the last negotiations before Copenhagen. Algeria admitted that its negotiator had been recalled but it was denied that this had anything to do with Africa's stand.
The African bloc complained that rich nations' carbon cuts were far too small to avoid catastrophic climate change, and refused to participate until more was done. The move forced the UN to abandon several sessions and reschedule others to give rich countries more time to debate emissions cuts. Countries have agreed to devote 60% of the remaining time to those discussions.
France has been supportive of Africa's position ahead of the climate change talks in Copenhagen. But French negotiators are known to have been angered and dismayed by the African move. "They are shooting themselves in the foot," said one French diplomat.
The Guardian has learned that Africa's intervention was not a spur of the moment decision by negotiators. The decision to make a stand to try to force rich countries to increase their commitments was taken in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, last month when African heads of state met to coordinate their positions before the talks.
"It was a political act, not a negotiating stand. The negotiators here in Barcelona were told to make a dramatic action," said one source close to the group.
"We took a risk and it worked. We are very pleased with the reaction," said Bruno Sekoli, head of the Lesotho national climate office and chair of the least developed countries group of the world's poorest nations.
"Africa had no choice because of the reality of climate change. The negotiations have been going a long time and have not shown much progress. It's not about money. Climate change is an issue of life or death for us. The developed countries have to shift policies. A bad deal is not good for Africa or vulnerable countries," said Sekoli.
"The impacts of climate change have come too soon, so soon. I am scared to think of the consequences," he said.
He added that the reaction from other developing countries had been heartening. The G77 group of 130 countries, the Alliance of Small island states and others in Latin America all supported the African stance.
Their move was credited with reminding delegations that the ultimate point of the talks is to reduce emissions. Until now the negotiations have been dominated by concerns of the US and China and have seemed irrelevant to many of the poorest countries which are already feeling the effects of climate change.
"Their move leaves Africa in a much stronger position. So far Africa has not been recognised in the talks at all," said Saleemul Huq, head of climate change at the London-based International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED).
"It's a moral stance, it points out the difference between a good and a bad deal. A good deal is defined by what is good for the planet. Africa will feel the consequences most of a bad deal," said Huq. "If you are an African country you have much more at stake than a rich country. They are rightly confused by the talks and angry."
Hugh Cole, climate adviser for Oxfam in Southern Africa: "African countries have drawn a line in the sand this week. They are not willing to accept a bad deal in Copenhagen which will spell disaster for millions of their poorest people. Rich countries must now stop trying to dodge and delay their responsibilities — deliver the emissions cuts the science demands and the climate finance poor communities desperately need."
The Africa group of nations is a new political grouping in the UN climate talks, reflecting the continent's increased unity, and desire to work together. It is led by President Meles of Ethiopia, but is negotiating separately in the talks even though many of its members are part of larger political groupings like the G77 plus China, and the Least Developed Countries (LDC).