| African countries generate less than three percent of | | | | South Africa, which is one of the continent's biggest |
| the world's greenhouse gas emissions, which is the | | | | polluters. If power plants worldwide can clean up their |
| type of pollution that causes global warming. But | | | | smokestack pollution, more than 25 percent of the |
| Africans are likely to be hardest hit by the effects of | | | | climate change problem could be solved. South |
| that pollution. On Friday, officials from Europe and | | | | Africa's Minister of Environment and Tourism, Marthinus |
| South Africa met to discuss ways to ease the impact | | | | van Schalkwyk, acknowledges his country has a |
| of climate change on Africa. For VOA, Terry | | | | unique set of problems. |
| FitzPatrick reports. | | | | "We know as a country that we will have to make |
| Africa's economy depends heavily on agriculture, | | | | plans to adapt to the effects of climate change. But |
| which makes it especially vulnerable to changes in | | | | we also know that we have a role to play with regard |
| climate. Experts say the economic burden of global | | | | to mitigation. Ninety percent of our energy is coal-fired |
| warming can offset the benefits of international aid. | | | | energy in South Africa. And we know that we cannot |
| Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg says the | | | | continue in that way." |
| problems have already begun. | | | | The United Nations Kyoto Protocol process aims to |
| "Africa is already seriously affected by climate change: | | | | make clean technology available for developing |
| flooding, droughts, reduced agricultural capacity," said | | | | countries, with wealthier nations paying the cost. The |
| Stoltenberg. "So climate change is very serious for the | | | | process is also creating a fund to help Africa prepare |
| whole world but it's of particular concern for Africa." | | | | for the impact of changing climate. |
| Stoltenberg was speaking at a roundtable conference | | | | But Van Schalkwyk is worried what will happen in |
| sponsored by the South African National Biodiversity | | | | 2012 when the current Kyoto commitments run out. He |
| Institute. He says wealthy nations created the world's | | | | says the recent climate talks in Bali brought the United |
| climate problem, but African countries will have to help | | | | States closer to consensus with other nations. But he |
| in cutting greenhouse gas pollution. | | | | says there is more work to be done. |
| "It is the rich world that has been the main polluters | | | | "The step that the United States took in Bali was a |
| during many years," said Stoltenberg. "But at the same | | | | first step, but it was basically an infant step," said Van |
| time it is impossible to have big enough reductions | | | | Schalkwyk. "So I don't think it's any secret to say that |
| without also including the developing world." | | | | we will continue to put pressure on the United States. |
| Stoltenberg's remarks have particular relevance for | | | | |