Third World seeks clean technology

Third World countries feel they are on the sharp end of climate change

By Elizabeth Blunt in The Hague

Representatives of developing countries have said they are upset by the unwillingness of developed countries to discuss the kind of development programmes proposed three years ago in the Kyoto Protocol.

We are frustrated, we are distressed

G77 representative Mohammed Barkindo

Of the 175 countries represented at the climate conference in The Hague, more than 75% are from the developing world, and yet they're very much on the margins of this meeting.

They are not the countries who've been pouring carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Quite reasonably, they are not the ones which are being asked to cut back.

But they are strong supporters of the Climate Change Convention.

They point out that their people are the most vulnerable to the effects of global warming and the most powerless to prevent it.

Foot-dragging

They also have an interest in bringing the Kyoto Protocol into force because it includes mechanisms by which developed countries would be able to earn credits for promoting technology transfer and clean, sustainable development.

Most carbon emissions come from the developed world

But Mohammed Barkindo of Nigeria, speaking for their negotiating bloc, the G77 and China Group, said that it was proving impossible to get the developed countries to talk to them about it. "We are frustrated, we are distressed," he said.

"Not only because these countries have failed to meet their primary obligations under the Convention; they have instead increased their emissions.

"The obligations towards the countries of the South have not only not been fulfilled by them; what we have been witnessing is foot-dragging, blocking and sometimes outright rejection."

The developing countries control a majority of votes in this meeting.

It is clear that they want to use what power they have to get concrete proposals - probably for some kind of special funds to help them develop cleaner technologies and to adjust to the shock of climate change.