The 1st Climate Change and Development for Africa Conference opened on Monday in Ethiopia, as a contribution from this continent to fight that scourge, which affects vulnerable economies and populations.

The event is sponsored by the African Union, the Economic Commission for Africa and the African Development Bank, environmental agencies stated.

Participants will discuss Africa's priorities and the design of policies to protect the environment, as part of the international strategy to fight climate change, according to reports.

Studies in African countries, such as Benin, show that the impact of climate change on environmental degradation is widely visible, as it reduces forest areas, extends soil erosion and affects water resources.

That negative phenomenon is associated to widespread poverty, the imbalance between consumption and renewal of resources, and the lack of comprehensive policies relating to the environment, among other factors.

Members of the African Group and the Least Developed Countries Group recently demanded in Panama that the industrialized states, which are main responsible for environmental damage, stop blockading climate-related projects.

Prior to the UN Summit on Climate Change, scheduled for this year in Durban, South Africa, the President of the African Group, Pa Ousman, stated that the programs to preserve climate are essential for people's survival in poor countries.



Source: http://www.plenglish.com/