Africa Alleges Plan to Sabotage Kyoto Deal

The moves came following fears that rich nations are planning to sabotage the process by abandoning the Kyoto protocol which binds them to certain levels of gas emissions.

The African countries feared that the developed countries are trying to kill Kyoto and pursue another non-binding agreement.

The African group move is backed by the leading negotiation group of 130 developing nations (G77+China).

Algerian environment minister Djemouai Kamel, the African negotiators’ group chairman, said on Monday there was no reason for African leaders to attend the summit while their demands were ignored.

Africa wants the Kyoto protocol, the only available legally binding agreement adopted in 1997 in Japan, retained.

"African group would not be tolerating the killing of Kyoto protocol with out having any new deal," Mr Kamel said.

The Kyoto protocol was adopted on December 11, 1997 in Kyoto, Japan, and came into force on February 16, 2005. As at November, 187 states had ratified the protocol.

The group refused to continue negotiations unless talks on a second commitment period to the treaty were given priority over broader discussions on a "long-term vision" for action on climate change.

The African group said the walkout was not aimed at blocking the deal but to rescue Africa.

Source: Allafrica