Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) - The African Union Commission Chairperson, Jean Pi ng, left Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for Copenhagen, Denmark, on Monday, reiterating A frica's call for compensation for the risks suffered as a result of climate cha nge.

"Africa demands that developed countries that release most of the historical e missions, should compensate developing nations for climate damage they caused in

recent decades and also seeks financial support to install clean-energy equipmen t ," Ping said before departing.

He underlined that ?the issue of climate change has become a priority for Afri cans because Africa is the worst-hit and the most vulnerable continent by the is s ue of climate change, although it contributes the least to it.

Africa's chief diplomat, who is leading a high-level delegation from the conti nental organisation, is expected to join Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, w ho is Africa's lead negotiator for a fair climate deal at the Copenhagen Summit .

The Ethiopian Premier has already pledged a tough stance ahead of the talks and hosted both African and European diplomats based in Addis Ababa to a party for t h e delegation, leaving for Copenhagen this weekend in a clear sign of an anticipa t ed victory.

Zenawi said Africa would insist on compensation during this week's final push for a fairer climate deal, adding that the key economic blocs, like China, had a l so pledged support for Africa.

Ping will arrive in Copenhagen, Denmark, Tuesday where he would lead the African Union Commission delegation to the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP-15) of t h e UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Fifth Conference of

the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties (CMP-5) to the Kyoto Protocol,

being held from 7?18 December 2009.

The Denmark talks bring together all signatories to the UN Climate Change Conven tion to negotiate a more equitable, ambitious and effective global agreement to c ombat climate change beyond 2012, when the first commitment period of the Kyoto P rotocol comes to an end and a second commitment period must begin.

The Danish authorities have been under pressure from poorer countries for siding with the richer states on the need to substantially weaken the Kyoto protocol.

African leaders meeting during their 13th session of the Assembly of Heads of St ate and Government of the AU, on 1-3 July 2009, in Sirte, Libya, appointed a Com m ittee of 10 African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) to

lead the process and Africa's negotiations.

The CAHOSCC consists of Algeria, Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Uganda and the Chairperson of the African Union.

It also brings together the Chairperson of the Commission and the Chairperson of AMCEN as well as the Negotiators/Experts on Climate Change (NECC) from all memb e r states. The panel met 17 November in Addis Ababa.

The meeting was convened, in collaboration with the African Union Commission, by the Ethiopian Prime Minister in his capacity as the Coordinator of CAHOSCC.

The committee reviewed Africa's strategies and institutional mechanisms to pro mote the African Common Position on Climate Change in the run up to the Copenhag e n Summit.

"The conclusions of the November meeting were sent to all African member states and forms the basis for Africa?s action at the Copenhagen Summit," the AU said in a statement Monday.

Ping will participate in a high-level panel debate on Climate Change and Interna tional Security convened by the Danish Foreign Minister.

The African panel will also hold a special session 16 December in a side meeting organised by the United Nations Regional Economic Commissions - Africa Asia, Eu r ope-America - as a Guest of the Executive Director of UN Economic Commission for

Africa, Mr. Abdoulie Janneh, Ping's office said.

Addis Ababa - 14/12/2009