Climate deal in doubt as rich nations waver

• A political pact this year, then a legal one in Mexico next year, says Danish PM

However, environmentalists say that if Mr Obama can get a bill through Congress, an international deal that now looks impossible will be possible next year.

Related Stories

• Climate deal chances slim, says China

The other and even bigger handle is on whether the major industrial countries will put on the table specific targets in reducing carbon emissions into the atmosphere. The world major polluters, US and China, responsible for 40 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions, are yet to commit any figures.

China has insisted that it will not commit to reducing its carbon intensity unless the US is fully committed to cutting its share.

In related news, Kenya could be home to a unique environmental programme to deal with climate change if a proposal tabled at an international forum is adopted.

President Kibaki on Wednesday urged participants to support in pushing for the upgrading of the United Nations Environmental Programme (Unep) offices in Nairobi into a fully fledged World Environment Organisation. The severity of the environmental disaster and related challenges in Africa justified the improvement of the capacity of the Unep, he added.

President Kibaki reiterated that Africa must remain united and ensure continued commitment to and support of the Kyoto Protocol basis for dealing with devastating effects of climatic change.

“We recognize that the Kyoto Protocol will enable African countries have access to adequate and predictable financial resources. These resources are required to prevent damage to the environment on the continent,” he said.

Budget programmes

The African Group of Ten Summit on Climate Change, is a follow-up of earlier meetings in Algiers in May and Sirte, Libya in July this year.

President Kibaki asked African countries to attend the Copenhagen negotiations with clearly articulated and budgeted programmes and projects to help the continent meet its climate change mitigation and adaptation obligations.

He said during the Copenhagen meeting, Africa must demand that industrial countries meet their carbon reduction targets within specified time-frame.

Additional report by Joy Wanja and PPS