Accra, Nov. 6, GNA - A coalition of non-governmental organisations (NGO) working to ensure that a global deal on climate change is reached, has petitioned oil rich Saudi Arabia to be proactive to facilitate the process.
The Abibiman Foundation, Green- Life Clubs, Ghana National Youth Coalition, and the African Youth Initiative on Climate Change, presented the petition to the Saudi Embassy in Accra, after staging a street protest to draw public attention to the issue.
The protesters called for a fair, ambitious and binding outcome from the Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change, scheduled for December 2.
They said they shared in the goals of the TckTckTck, an international movement of hundreds of organisations and millions of people supporting the campaign on climate change and were therefore concerned that the lacklustre position of the Saudi Government in the negotiations could prevent the necessary deal from being made.
The NGO representatives asked the Saudi Government to use its skilled delegation to the conference to support the G77 and China to protect the interests and needs of the poorest and most vulnerable countries.
"Climate change is a man- made crisis that is threatening the survival of human civilization therefore, immediate action must be taken to control the situation," says
Mr. Kwabena Okai Ofosohene, Chief Executive officer of Abibiman Foundation.
"Saudi Arabia is one of the leading countries in the climate negotiations. It has a well experienced and skilled delegation that can influence the negotiations tremendously. However, they (Saudi Authorities) are more concerned with protecting the oil trade rather than protecting the planet from climate change," he added.
The protestors held placards which read: "Saudi Arabia we count on you make climate change negotiations work for the world's poorest and vulnerable communities", "Create a toxic - free future," "Change climate hazards to change Africa" and "Save the poor, petroleum is not food."
GNA
