South Africa has stated in no uncertain terms that they will not be agreeing to any targets set at the United Nations climate change conference that could effect the development of the country.
"We think it is unrealistic for us at this stage to set targets," said government spokesperson Themba Maseko.
Ha also stated it was too early for South Africa to agree to any targets when asked if they were saying no to any greenhouse gas emission target.
"We think it is premature for South Africa to agree to targets at this particular point in time, largely because ... our energy requirements still rely very largely on coal-powered power stations.

"If we were to agree to targets now, we think that could hamper our economic growth, because it would mean that we'd then have to ask Eskom to slow down on its programme to build more power stations.

"Our economy still requires a lot of energy, and the only viable source of energy at this particular point in time is through the use of coal-powered power stations," he said.
The conference starts in Copenhagen on December 15th and is aiming to establish a global climate agreement from 2012 as this is when the Kyoto Protocol expires.

"Whereas we are a large gas emitter, a lot of it has to do with the fact that we have a smaller population and yet are emitting a lot of gasses. Setting targets now would hamper our growth,"  Maseko said
Cabinet believed developed nations, rather than developing nations, had the greater responsibility when it came to targets.

"Developed nations in our view have a greater responsibility now. They have contributed to emissions for longer than any of the developing nations, and their economies have reached a certain level of growth which can enable them to actually reduce their emissions.

"Whereas, developing nations, such as ourselves have quite a way to go in terms of growing our economy and meeting our ... growth [targets].

"We therefore think it is unrealistic for us at this stage to set targets," he said.

When questioned, Maseko confirmed that this was the position South Africa would be taking at the conference.
It was one shared by many developing nations.

Maseko said whatever agreement was reached at Copenhagen, South Africa's position was it "should not be at the expense of the development challenges of the developing nations".