Africa condemn Zenawi’s address at climate summit

African civil society groups condemn Zenawi’s address at climate summit

APA-Copenhagen (Denmark) African parliamentarians and civil society groups

attending the United Nations conference on climate change in Copenhagen,

condemned on Wednesday proposals made by Ethiopian Prime Minister, Meles

Zenawi, relating to global warming and financing issues before the assembly,

being against the African group’s stand.



According to a press release made public by the chairperson of the Pan

African Parliamentarians’ Network on Climate Change, the Cameroonian

national Awudu Mbaya, the Ethiopian Prime Minister’s report before the

assembly “undermines African negotiators’ stand and that of ministers

attending the meeting.”


The press release describes Prime Minister Zenawi’s proposals as to enable

the increase of temperature level at 2° as a “real catastrophe” for Africa.


“This is likely to threaten the life of millions of people, including the

African population,” warned Mr. Hon Awudu Mbaya in the release.


Another issue also causing anger was the proposal of 10 billion dollars at

the end of urgent action by the Ethiopian Prime Minister, whereas the

African group demanded up to 400 billion dollars.


However, African countries want to compel rich countries to reduce at least

45% of their greenhouse gas emissions.


According to the press release, PM Zenawi’s position threatens the prospects

of African economic and social development and poverty reduction.


African civil society groups which joined African parliamentarians’ protest

described Meles Zenawi’s address as an act of treachery.


“If Prime Minister Meles wants to sell lives and hopes, he is welcome, but

this does not reflect Africa’s position,” said Mithika Mwenda from the Pan

African Climate Justice Alliance quoted by the same release.


Another official from the Climate Justice Alliance, Augustine Njamnshi,

quoted by the press release, said that this statement seems to be a way to

undermine the negotiations.


African parliamentarians and civil society groups call on Africans and even

developed countries to condemn “the unilateral position of Ethiopia.”


They concluded by urging Meles Zenawi to report his position or to give up

acting as the coordinator of the African heads of state and governments on

climate change.