The Poverty of Africa's Position at the Climate Change Convention Negotiations

Abstract

This article discusses Africa's position (or, more accurately in the author's opinion, lack of position) in the Climate Change Convention negotiations. The article argues that, perhaps more than any other global agreement in recent times, the Climate Change Convention negotiations are an amalgam of a bewilder- ing array of diverse national, economic and environmental and other interests, objectives and perspectives all of which have sought, with varying degrees of success, to find expression in the Convention. Africa, so far, has failed demonstrably to articulate any position unique to it, and has therefore been largely marginal in the negotiations. The article explores some of the reasons for this failure and puts forward some suggestions which might be considered in the effort to improve Africa's position in the negotiations.