Rwanda backs UK’s plan on climate change

Rwanda has expressed its support for the recent commitment by the British government regarding its position on dealing with climate change to achieve sustainable global development. British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, Friday, called for a global fund worth US$100 billion a year to tackle climate change in the developing world. He warned that the earth itself will be at risk unless the Copenhagen Climate Change conference in December -- which aims to strike a new agreement on slowing global warming -- reaches a strong accord. “Rwanda endorsed Gordon Brown’s statement because it does provide adequate views on the efficient mechanisms to tackle climate change and its impact so as to achieve sustainable development,” Stanislas Kamanzi, the Minister of Environment and Natural Resource said. “Rwanda views positively the proposal to devise approaches that are beneficial to the developing world in the new framework to be agreed upon in Copenhagen.” Kamanzi, added that Brown’s reflections are well aligned with Rwanda’s stand as to how Climate Change can be efficiently dealt with globally. Meanwhile, a statement from the Government of Rwanda clearly states that Rwanda welcomes and endorses the speech by the British Prime Minister. “The Prime Minister’s statement is clear, ambitious and bold and provides important guideline towards equitable development and a comprehensive and fair climate protocol that should be adopted in Copenhagen in December 2009,” reads part of the statement. It adds that Rwanda concurs with Prime Minister Brown, that climate change affects the entire global community, especially those that live in the least developed countries that, crucially, do not significantly contribute to Green House Gases emissions. Indeed, the developing world will not be able to tackle the climate change challenge by itself – and will require financial and technical support to ensure that they successfully adopt a low carbon, climate resilient development path, reads the governments statement. “The Government of Rwanda joins Prime Minister Brown in embracing the objectives set out which include, a fair deal has to be sought in financing, mitigating and adapting to climate change between developed and developing economies and US$100 annually to be availed for financing the real mitigation and adaptation measures that will supplement the existing social and economic development support,” adds the statement. The new development is an equitable and mutually beneficial financing mechanism that will ensure that emerging economies, including the Continent of Africa, will not be left behind in this critical global challenge. Rwanda has for long shown its commitment to move ahead on a green growth path through a number of programs and development strategies. The country come up with a plan to focus on the development of renewable energies such as hydropower, geothermal, solar, wind, methane gas and the sustainable use of biomass with a target of becoming a green and clean energy economy. Other plans include extensive carbon sinking through afforestation and reforestation programmes, efforts to increase energy efficiency in residential, industrial and transport sectors have also been improved, soil carbon storage through a number of agricultural initiatives. Adoption of low carbon emission technologies in industries and manufacturing and dedicated engagement in the governance aspects of climate change are also among the country’s plans. Rwanda hosted the Finance for Development Conference in Kigali in May 2009 that brought together African Finance and Environment Ministers to discuss and agree on a common position for Climate Change financing options. The main outcome of the meeting was the consensus for a common platform in analysing the available financing options and for making choices that will best address the African situation during Copenhagen negotiations. “We look forward to Copenhagen negotiations with resolve and determination for achieving win-win solutions and Rwanda applauds and joins the UK Government in its recommendations for mutual beneficial adaptation, and mitigation efforts for saving our environment at the Copenhagen Conference,” reads the government’s statement. Brown also recently commented that: “If we are to achieve an agreement in Copenhagen, I believe we must move the debate from a stand-off over hypothetical figures to active negotiation... and an urgent recognition of the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable countries.” He added; “I propose we take a working figure for this purpose of around US$100bnper annum by 2020.” Making his proposal to help the developing nations adopt clean technology, Mr Brown said it was time to think not in terms of the political and economic cycles, but of “epochs and eras”, of how today’s stewardship by the leading countries would be seen by “tomorrow’s children” He committed Britain to paying its “fair share” and said others should to do the same and added that: “if we act now, if we act together, if we act with vision and resolve, success at Copenhagen is within reach. But if we falter, the earth itself will be at risk.” Media reports have quoted Brown saying: “while the richest countries have caused climate change it is the poorest who are already suffering its effects.” Last month, a study from the Global Humanitarian Forum headed by former UN chief Kofi Annan, said climate change is responsible for the deaths of 300,000 people every year, with 325 million of the poorest suffering most. Ends

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Rwanda backs UK’s plan on climate change