Sudan climate negotiator ‘Holocaust’ remarks prompt angry response
December 19, 2009 (PARIS) – The Sudanese negotiator representing the Group of 77 and China bloc of 130 poor nations was criticized following his statements likening the climate-change deal reached in Copenhagen to the Holocaust.
“It is a solution based on values that funneled six million people in Europe into furnaces” he added.
Sudan is amongst 15 countries listed as the most vulnerable countries to the impact of climate change in Africa in a report released in Copenhagen at the UN climate summit by the International Institute for Environment and Development.
It says that Sudan is vulnerable to drought, floods, extreme heat and shifts in the rainy season and that these climate hazards will have a negative effect on health.
Ed Miliband, Britain’s climate minister, condemned the “disgusting comparison” adding that it “should offend people across this conference whatever background they come from”.
The Sudanese official had accused Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen of bias against developing nations.
UN climate talks ended with a bare-minimum agreement on Saturday when delegates “noted” an accord struck by the United States, China and other emerging powers that falls far short of the conference’s original goals.
Di-Aping was reportedly angered by the positions of China and India for agreeing to the accord.
(ST)