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We are sensitive to the implications for Africa of a 

 range of environmental agreements and conventions flowing from 

 the Rio Earth Summit, including Agenda 21, the Convention on 

 Global Climate Change, the Convention on Biodiversity, and the 

 Convention on Combatting Desertification. 



• We are supporting climate change studies in half a 

 dozen African countries, helping them to inventory their 

 greenhouse gas emissions, to evaluate their 

 vulnerability to climate change, and to begin 

 considering remedial strategies. Our long-term 

 objective is to help the Africans develop their own 

 planning and implementation capability on climate change 

 and its consequences. 



• By signing the Convention on Biodiversity, the U.S. 

 has signalled its support for sustainable use of the 

 biosphere and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits 

 deriving from that use. In Africa, as well as around 

 the globe, countries will have new incentives and 

 resources for conservation of their unique biological 

 gifts . 



• The desertification convention, still under 

 negotiation, gives priority to Africa as the area most 

 heavily affected by dertif ication . It will stimulate 

 international cooperation against a world-wide scourge, 

 drawing on the latest technological developments, such 

 as drought early warning systems. At the same time it 

 will encourage African nations to use existing 

 anti-desertification aid more creatively and efficiently 

 -- by, for example, promoting better planning, 

 involvement of local communities, and regional 



cooper at ion . 



We know that preserving Africa's endangered species is 

 a matter of the utmost urgency requiring vigorous multilateral 

 and bilateral action. Secretary Babbit ' s certification of 

 China and Taiwan under the Pelly Amendment for their trade in 

 rhino horn and (Asian) tiger parts reflects this 

 Administration's determination to act before it is too late. 



• We expect our friends and fellow members of the 

 Convention on International Trade in Endangered species 

 (CITES) to help us in this effort. We are also offering 

 technical assistance to China and Taiwan to enable them 

 to act more effectively. 



77-751 0-94-2 



