Angolan Vice-President Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos called for a common African position at the opening plenary of the global climate change talks, COP 17, in Durban on Monday.

“It is important for this conference to establish a common African position. Adjustment to climate change, reducing greenhouse-gas emissions and an assurance of funding by developed countries for sustainable climate change projects are crucial,” said Dos Santos, representing the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

A common African platform recognised the need to preserve forests as carbon reservoirs and the sustainable management thereof, he explained. “We must follow the guidelines of the African union based on the continental strategy on climate change, including SADC and least developed countries.”

He was joined by Chad President Idriss Déby, who said that Africa must develop solidarity followed by a need for global solidarity.

Africashould play a significant role in the climate talks, he added.

“We must develop greater international solidarity to tackle the threats of climate change. Such solidarity should allow a more holistic and robust solutions, such as implementation of action in the forests of the Congo Basin,” Déby said.