African representatives at the climate change conference in Bali say they’re happy that one of their key issues has been inserted into the final draft document, known as the Bali Roadmap.
VOA reporter Chinedu Offor is in Bali and spoke to VOA English to Africa Service reporter Joe De Capua about that key ingredient wanted by African nations.
“The key ingredient is the Clean Development Mechanism. It’s known as the CDM. This is to help countries on the continent develop, what they call, clean environmental projects….there are about 850 of such projects in 49 developing countries, 23 of those are in Africa. So, African countries are happy that the international community has recognized that Africa needs assistance if it’s able to tap into and benefit from this CDM project,” he says.
While praising the inclusion of the CDM, African representatives are complaining about the exclusion of another important element. Offor says, “Another main issue is that of adaptation. Adaptation meaning the ability of industries to move to new technology. They say it’s key to Africa if Africa is to grow, but that has not received that much attention. They have pushed for it but some say it might not make the final document, which was actually today (Tuesday) passed onto the ministers for final vetting before it can be presented to the heads of governments and prime ministers.”
One of those criticizing the exclusion of adaptation in the final draft document is the representative of Sudan, Ngmodeen al-Hassan. He says, “So far as we see, the agenda for adaptation is treated in a piecemeal-like situation. It’s fragmented. There is no comprehensive framework that addresses adaptation in a strategic way.”
Reporter Offor says all countries get to have a say at the Bali climate change conference. However, he says that when it comes to providing money, developing countries are skeptical that rich nations will come through. He says, “The United States and some other industrial, developed nations have not agreed on whether African countries and developing economies should be rewarded in terms of giving them money to develop new technologies or for conservation. That is still a point of contention.”