African civil society leaders have criticised the role of developed countries, particularly the European Union (EU) in the UN climate negotiations held [in April 2011] in Bangkok, Thailand.<\/p>\n
At a press conference hosted by the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), a network of over 300 organisations from over 45 countries, civil society leaders stood in solidarity with African negotiators. These negotiators were continuing to fight against the EU\u2019s refusal to sign up to a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol and against the United State\u2019s blocking tactics over the adoption of a comprehensive work plan for the negotiations for 2011.<\/p>\n
\u201cDeveloped countries, with the greatest responsibility, can\u2019t keep walking both sides of the street in these negotiations. This is time to build on \u2013 and not undermine<\/em> \u2013 ambition. Parties need to find solutions in line with the global challenge. Now is the moment of truth, we need an outcome that can secure the lives and livelihoods of the world\u2019s most vulnerable people who are already suffering the consequences of climate change.\u201d \u00a0Mohamed Adow, Senior Advisor for Global Climate Advocacy, Christian Aid said.<\/p>\n Tetteh Hormeku of the Africa Trade Network (ATN) noted that \u201cthe US is blocking these negotiations by trying to force the entire negotiations to only discuss the Cancun agreements\u201d, adding that \u201cat the most, Cancun dealt with the soft issues so as to re-establish the trust that was so badly shattered in Copenhagen. What is needed now is to use that trust to tackle the hard issues that we omitted in Cancun, but which are necessary for science-and equity based action to address climate change and save Africa from catastrophe \u2013 that is significant emission reductions in developed countries.”<\/p>\n \u201cThe approach of the EU seems to be that they\u2019ll set our house on fire \u2013 and when we complain they\u2019ll tell us to take a shower to cool off. African civil society is here to say that now is the moment of truth, now is the time for the EU to show whether it cares about Africa at all,\u201d said Michele Maynard of PACJA.<\/p>\n \u201cCuriously, while the US and EU negotiators play political games, vulnerable women and children in Kenya continue to be devastated by the growing impacts of climate change.\u00a0 The Red Cross reported before I arrived in Bangkok that around five million people face starvation due to climate-inspired drought in north-eastern and other drier regions in Kenya. It seems like we are on the Titanic: we in\u00a0Africa are at the bottom and sinking first, but those at the top \u2013 the US and the EU \u2013 should not feel so safe for they will also sink soon,” said Mithika Mwenda, co-ordinator of PACJA.<\/p>\n