Editor,

Refer to Oscar Kimanuka’s article, "Why Africa should champion the crusade on green economy” (The New Times, January 30).

The efforts in Rwanda on green models are commendable, if not impressive. However the most fundamental questions about this topic remain either unanswered or dodged by the authors of these predicaments.

For instance, the US is one of the top countries in the list of CO2 emissions, yet only a few days ago its senate passed a bill approving the controversial keystone pipeline; the question is why, in light of this obvious, logical and real crisis, are countries like China and US refusing to budge? Do you really think and believe that efforts from nations like Rwanda can make a difference in the healing of a planet that is so far advanced in this disease?

Realistically, these efforts from developing nations such as Rwanda are like drops in the ocean. And frankly my concern is that it’s the poor at the bottom of the heap who will have to pay the highest price. Unless these shark nations who go about thinking it’s their god damn rights to do what they want with the planet change their mentality and begin to implement these accords then my humble opinion is that Rwanda’s and Africa’s efforts will be in vain.

Frankly, African nations cannot afford to divert the little, crucial funds for basic needs and personal growth of its people on projects that will make little impact while the world they’re trying to protect and save go about indulging themselves in activities that enrich them further while sickening the planet.

It’s simply unfair that while our people have to put up with extremely poor conditions, the West and emerging markets such as BRICS continue to make little or no effort towards the issue of climate change – especially since their activities are the causal factors of climatic problems.

While it’s great to think and talk about the issues of climate change in Rwanda and Africa, for me personally the question is ‘is this a priority?’ or is it a long-term goal that can be borne in mind and not take the place of urgent issues such as that of security, education, health etc.

Nonetheless, I am not advocating that we sit around in Africa and do nothing about this, I am merely pointing to certain facts that are extremely frustrating considering the attitudes and actions, if not lack of actions, by the top countries that emit CO2 most.

John Smith