Drought, desertifaction and a growing population exodus because of these problems were the main worries considered by some 40 African countries taking part in the debate on how to tackle global warming after 2012 when the Kyoto environment protocol expires.

The UN Climate Change Conference to is to be held in Copenhagen at the end of next year, after a preparatory meeting in Poznan, Poland in December, and Algerian Environment Minister Cherif Rahmani said Africa needs a "common position" because "the stakes and the threats are common."

Rahmani said Africa would insist that rich countries take into account developing nations who produce less polluting gas.

Yvo De Boer, executive secretary of the UN Convention on Climate Change, said the African plan would be a "key contribution" to the negotiations.

"Africa is the continent hardest hit by climate changes (and) it is also the continent that has benefited the least from the current negotiations on climate changes," he told the conference.

Some experts say the carbon credits trading scheme set up after Kyoto does not benefit Africa.

The so-called Clean Development Mechanism, allows businesses in developed countries to offset carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by investing in "green" projects in the developing countries, such as renewable energy schemes or reforestation.

But critics say this is unfair as Africa only produces two percent of the world's CO2, compared to 45 percent produced by China.

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