Pretoria, August 04: South Africa says it and other developing countries won’t consider the next round of climate change talks successful unless rich nations pay up.
South African officials meeting on Tuesday to discuss strategy ahead of the December climate change talks in Copenhagen said at least 1 percent of global GDP should be set aside by rich nations.
That money would help developing countries conduct research and take other steps to cope with climate change. It also could help them obtain technology to reduce their carbon emissions.
Alf Wills, a top South African environmental official, summed up the position: “No money, no deal.”
South Africa, more industrialised than most on the continent, is Africa’s main carbon emitter.
—Agencies