Africa: a green economy with fast-track finance and technology

Kaire Mbuende (June 2010)

Where: Bonn 2010: 31st SBSTA & SBI; 12th AWG KP & 10th AWG LCA

Kaire Mbuende, head of the Namibia delegation, thinks that we're now at a stage where we can put together a text for negotiation. He considers the pledges parties have made, and says that they "are far short of where we need to be". For example the EU's 20%, he says, should be at least 40%. He notes there is a collective responsibility, but this is differentiated according to capacity, development needs and historic responsibility. Africa can develop and industrialise on the basis of a green economy, but they will need financial support and technology, so they avoid a development path followed by developed countries. He argues that fast-track financing is not yet happening, and that the lack of delivery doesn't augur well for building confidence.