African countries are expected to present a common voice at the forthcoming conference on climate change to be held in December in Copenhagen, Demark, a Nigerian official said in Abuja on Wednesday.

Victor Fodeke, Head of the Climate Change Special Unit in the Federal Ministry of Environment, said Nigeria's position on climate change is not different from the position of most African countries.

He said presenting a common voice at the talks is necessary for African countries, which, like other developing countries, contribute a meager 3 percent of green house gases but are the most vulnerable to the impact of climate change.

Fodeke said Africa's position at the conference would be geared at strengthening the continent's resolve to adapt to policies that would help it to curtail the adverse impact of climate change.

He said such policies should be proactive, in order to help the continent manage the adverse consequences of climate change.

Fodeke added that to mitigate the effects posed to Africa by climate change, African leaders have to reach the conclusion that four issues must be addressed in the efforts to combat climate change.

He listed the issues as adaptation, mitigation, capacity building and technology transfer.

Fodeke said the issues would constitute the four pillars in negotiations with developed countries to assist African countries absorb the impact of climate change, and challenge the developed nations to honor their commitment to Africa.

"It is important for developed countries to make short term commitments to Africa that are measurable, verifiable and reportable,'' the News Agency of Nigeria quoted him as saying.

The climate change expert said unlike the developed nations, Africa does not possess the technology and know-how to absorb the adverse impact of climate change.

"That is why Africa is more vulnerable to climate change, because it does not possess the capacity and technology to tackle its adverse impact,'' he added.

(Xinhua News Agency June 11, 2009)