KAYONZA – Officials working under the Rwandan Climate Change Network (RCCN) have appealed to experts on climate change from Africa including African Civil Society, to speak with one voice during the upcoming conference on climate change in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Talking to The New Times, after a meeting convened in Kayonza district on Tuesday, John Bideri, the chairman of RCCN, said they hoped to push for a fair deal for Africa.

"Let the agreements centered around the climate system ensure the rights of vulnerable groups, who rely on natural resources for their livelihoods,” he said.  "It should also be practical and applicable to Africa’s needs and challenges.”

Johnson Nkusi, the vice-chairman of RCCN, said there is need for developed countries to have a political will in order to come up with a fair and binding deal in Copenhagen.

"The least and the developed countries should continue to be united and not be divided by the need to have a consensus for combating climate change globally,” he said.

A consensus is expected to be reached this month in Copenhagen at a summit to decide on the possibility of reducing the emission of carbon gasses under a new framework.

Ends