Africa's growth rate is expected to slow to a 20-year low of two percent in 2009, and many experts have warned of "catastrophic" effects if Western nations opt to reduce their aid packages as a result of the downturn.

"At this point large contributors have not pulled back, but on the other hand the exchange rate changes, like the drop of sterling, can seriously impact on finances where Britain is a big contributor" Helen Clark, administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), told AFP.

She was speaking on the last day of a gathering that brought together UN representatives from 45 sub-Saharan African nations in the Ethiopian capital. Reduction in aid "is a concern, but major donors are hanging in there and that's why the stimulus packages in the West are so important because that's part of getting the world economy back on track, and supporting those countries in improving their own economies," she added.

Clark, a former New Zealand prime minister, also highlighted the effects of climate change on the world's poorest continent, which has been on the receiving end of environmental disasters over the past few decades.

"In Africa, it's not African emissions which are an issue -- there are very, very few of them. The issue is that the emissions of the industrialised world are grossly affecting it with more extreme climate which leads to more floods and severe effects on people," she said.

Clark commended US President Barack Obama for his commitment to tackle climate change, and expressed hope that the next global round of climate talks in Copenhagen would yield results.

"We have to hope all players go to Copenhagen in that (ambitious) spirit, and in the end get an agreement," she said.

"With President Obama giving good leadership on this it will be possible for US to help bring about an agreement, there's a different attitude in Washington now."

Analysts have expressed doubts over the likelihood of a new global climate pact emerging from the Copenhagen talks next December.

The marathon negotiations over global emissions cuts were initiated in Bali, Indonesia in December 2007, when the international community set down a two-year "road map" for a deal that would address climate change beyond 2012, when the Kyoto Protocol expires.

But the talks are mired in disagreement over burden-sharing, pitching rich countries against poor but also dividing rich countries themselves.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has said that the international community should compensate Africa for the damage caused by global warming.

Share This Article With Planet Earth

del.icio.us	Digg	Reddit
YahooMyWeb	Google	Facebook

Related Links
Africa News - Resources, Health, Food

Memory Foam Mattress Review

SPACE MEDIA NETWORK PROMOTIONS Solar Energy Solutions Tempur-Pedic Mattress Comparison ... Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News