African parliamentarians want governments of industrialised countries to provide enough funds to fight climate change. The Pan African Parliamentarians?? Network on Climate Change (PAPNCC) has embarked on a crusade calling on governments of industrialised countries to put at the disposal of African countries enough funds that will enable them maintain the
forest reserves in the continent, plant more trees and seek alternate means of generating income that do aggravate the climate change situation, the Executive President of PAPNCC said. Hon. Awudu Mbaya who also doubles as Questor in Cameroon??s National Assembly said, the African parliamentarians want the continent??s governments to speak with one voice and adopt a common position during international negotiations on climate change, with particular focus on the UN conference on climate change to take place from December 7 to 18, 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The Executive President of the Pan African Parliamentarians?? Network on Climate Change, Awudu Mbaya yesterday, July 15 gave a press briefing in Yaounde. He just returned from London, United Kingdom where the United Kingdom Branch of the Commonwealth from July 5 to 11, 2009, organised an ??International Parliamentary Conference on Climate Change: countdown to Copenhagen??. Hon Awudu Mbaya specially invited to the conference disclosed that 38 Commonwealth member States were represented and with about 80 parliamentarians excluding specialised institutions and experts. The impact of the Pan African Parliamentarians?? Network on Climate Change was great in the London conference as the final communiqué was issued ??taking into consideration the Yaounde Declaration which spells out the African stand as far as Copenhagen dialogue and negotiations are concerned??, Awudu Mbaya said. African parliamentarians came out with the declaration during the PAPNCC first conference that took place in Yaounde, Cameroon from June 25 to 27, 2009. He also revealed that the Yaounde Declaration was taken completely during the African Union Heads of State summit that took place recently in Libya.
Emmanuel KENDEMEH, Cameroon Tribune
