Officiating at the workshop on promoting climate technology and carbon market partnerships in Gaborone on November 4, 2009, the Former President of Botswana and now UN Secretary General Special Envoy on Climate Change, Mr. Mogae said in Botswana and many parts of Africa, the sun is the attractive alternative as the country has 315 cloudless days per year and being along the Tropic of Capricon, the sun is strong.

He highlighted that the objective of the workshop was to share knowledge and facilitate business and partnership opportunities.

Mr Mogae explained that climate change will hit developing countries hardest and they will have the least capacity to fight back.

On other issues, he intimated that at the climate change summit in New York last September, the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon explained that greenhouse gas emissions have now reached proportions that can destroy human life if not halted.

Consequently, he highlighted that global emissions would need to be reduced by at least 50 per cent by 2050, in order to starve off the worst effects Africa, he said, which is already short of water for its populations, will suffer further severe droughts and water shortages.

This, he argued, will worsen rural poverty and hamper sustainable development.

He said the UN secretary generals message was that industrialised countries must set ambitious emission targets, but also that developing countries must take appropriate action to mitigate climate, with necessary support.

 [Excerpts from an Article on Botswana Daily News dated November 5th, 2009, Front page]

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