By PPS

President Kibaki has urged African leaders to unite in pushing for the upgrading of the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep) into a full-fledged world environment organisation to be based in Nairobi.

Speaking on Tuesday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during the African Summit of the Group of Ten on Climate Change, Kibaki said the severity of environmental calamities in Africa justifies the enhancement of the capacity of the Unep.

"It is my view that patents of environmentally friendly technologies should be readily available through Unep and be made accessible for development-oriented applications by developing nations," he said.

The summit, hosted under the auspices of the African Union Commission, is a follow-up of earlier meetings in Algiers in May and Sirte, Libya, in July.

Kibaki also asked African countries to present new initiatives aimed at enhancing global dialogue and support for environmental solutions for the good of humanity, adding that this should include equitable governance structures.

He expressed hope the Addis Summit would consolidate Africa’s position in the negotiations at the Copenhagen Climate Change conference.

He asked Africa leaders to speak with one voice and support the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.

"We recognise the Kyoto Protocol will enable African countries have access to adequate and predictable financial resources. These resources are required to prevent damage to the environment on the continent," he said.

The President pointed out access to adequate financial resources would help redress the damage done through global warming as a result of excessive carbon emissions in industrial countries.

He asked African countries to go to the Copenhagen negotiations with clearly articulated and budgeted programs to ensure the continent meets its climate change obligations. He said Africa must demand that industrialised countries meet their carbon emission reduction targets.

Other speakers included Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, AU Commission Chairman Jean Ping and AU Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture Rhoda Tumusiime.

The Kenya delegation at the summit included ministers John Michuki (Environment), Moses Wetang’ula (Foreign Affairs), Noah Wekesa (Forestry), Yussuf Haji (Defence) and Internal Security Assistant Minister Orwa Ojodeh.