20100528
africa good news

A Climate Council, charged with developing a National Climate Plan, has been inaugurated by the Republic of Gabon's President Ali Bongo Ondimba.

During the launch, President Ali Bongo Ondimba explained that the Climate Council was set up to recommend ways in which to develop the nation sustainably while combating climate change and preventing species loss.

It was noted that respect for the environment was no more or less important than socio-economic development and by keeping the environment intact it is possible to have better livelihoods than if the environment was destroyed through exploitation of its resources.

The Climate Council comprises members of government from key ministries, including finance, foreign affairs, agriculture, health, defence, and technical experts. They will formulate recommendations and will define the financial costs of integrating climate change considerations into national development policies and projects. The Council will consult with the private sector and civil society.

Specific consultations will be organised around the themes energy and industry, agriculture and forests, waste and transport, training/research and finance. The consultation is expected to last six months.

The President asserted that the Climate Council is everyone's business and that it brings together all sections of society to ensure the coherence and applicability of a National Climate Plan. In this light, every Gabonese citizen has a stake in the process and its outcomes and everyone has their role to play in protecting and developing the country.

The President is now in Oslo where he is participating in an international conference on climate change and forests. There, Gabon will make its contribution towards building international consensus on reducing carbon emissions generated by deforestation and the degradation of forests. The event is an important milestone for achieving an international agreement at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Mexico at the end of this year.