DENMARK: Nigeria leads African criticism of the EU climate funding, accusing the group of playing a "double game"

Record ID: 455459

  • Title: DENMARK: Nigeria leads African criticism of the EU climate funding, accusing the group of playing a "double game"
  • Date: 15th December 2009
  • Summary: COPENHAGEN, DENMARK (DECEMBER 14, 2009) (REUTERS) SIGN READING: "NIGERIA" VARIOUS OF NIGERIAN DELEGATION INSIDE THE OFFICE (SOUNDBITE) (English) RONI AJAO, SPECIAL ADVISER TO THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, SAYING "My reaction to that is that I thought Europe is playing a double game. Number one, the Kyoto Protocol was set-up, and the idea that we have actually committed to it, we got the African nations on board. Once you've come down the line, you can't then change the dynamics of the game and that's what Europe is doing. Europe, they need America on board, they've given Africa some money. However you're dealing with a new Africa. There are many lives at stake here. Africans cannot afford, they're dying. The impact of climate change is significant. People are dying. We've already begun the impact - we've had the food crisis, coastal erosion - it's immense. Giving Africa money, yes it will do something but it's not enough, and therefore Africa will make a stand. We are no longer the Africa coming with the cup in hand looking at a begging bowl. Absolutely not. We have now come to the new era of Africa who understands the politics, who understand the international dynamics and will make a stand to get the best deal for Africa. VARIOUS OF INTERNATIONAL DELEGATES SEATED AT LOBBY GIANT GLOBE SHOWING AFRICA
  • Embargoed: 30th December 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Denmark
  • Country: Denmark
  • Topics: International Relations,Environment / Natural World
  • Reuters ID: LVA79BT152O1FGPCNDDPUNC4UQRI
  • Story Text: Nigeria accused the European Union on Monday (December 14) for playing a "double game" with the climate funding.
    The European union have proposed 150 billion US dollars to help poor countries cope with the impact of climate change.
    This proposal has been met with criticisms from environmentalists and African countries.
    "We are the only part of the world that has put on the table real money. And we're criticised for it. Really I have difficulties understanding it. It is a considerable amount of money for fast-track adaptation for setting up low carbon plans and actions in developing countries, for capacity-building, for assisting the least developed countries, especially the most vulnerable of these countries, especially those countries that have already been affected by climate change and the amount of money is more than was anticipated even by the press reports that I was looking before the European Council," Stavros Dimas, European Commission minister for environment, told a news briefing in Copenhagen on Monday.
    Nigeria on Monday accused the EU of playing a "double game" and saying a new Africa is taking a strong stand.
    "My reaction to that is that I thought Europe is playing a double game. Number one, the Kyoto Protocol was set-up, and the idea that we have actually committed to it, we got the African nations on board. Once you've come down the line, you can't then change the dynamics of the game and that's what Europe is doing. Europe, they need America on board, they've given Africa some money. However you're dealing with a new Africa. There are many lives at stake here. Africans cannot afford, they're dying," Roni Ajao, special adviser to Nigeria's minister for environment, told Reuters on Monday.
    "We are no longer the Africa coming with the cup in hand looking at a begging bowl. Absolutely not. We have now come to the new era of Africa who understands the politics , who understand the international dynamics and will make a stand to get the best deal for Africa," Ajao added.
    There is no agreement yet on how much rich nations should pay developing nations in the short or medium term to help them fight climate change Rich nations have suggested about 10 billion US dollars per year from 2010-2012 which China and African nations have rejected as not enough Developing nations have suggested figures of at least mid-term 200-300 billion US dollars climate aid annually by 2020, compared with a European Union proposal of 150 billion US dollars.
    No agreement yet on whether to extend Kyoto and add extra national commitments under a separate pact, or end Kyoto and agree one new treaty which specifies actions by most countries Kyoto Protocol limits the emissions of nearly 40 industrialised countries from 2008-2012, but excludes the United States, the world's second biggest carbon emitter A new climate deal should include climate action from many more countries, most negotiators agree.
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