Cross River State governor, Professor Ben Ayade, has made a strong case for a climate equalization fund for Africa if the battle to reduce Green House Gas emissions was to succeed.

Ayade, a professor of Environmental Science, made the call at the ongoing Climate Change Summit in Paris, France.

The governor, who is the leader of African governors to the summit, was of the view that the fund had become imperative since Africa must find an alternative source of livelihood for its people who are largely dependent on forest resources before it can embark on forest conservation.

“Decarbonisation is sequestration of African economy. A climate equalization fund for livelihood adaptation is imperative if Africa must conserve her forest, cap their oil wells and shut their coal mines,” he stated.

He, however, advised against a holistic adaptation of the approaches being employed  by the West and other developed nations  in the climate change battle by Africa.

Ayade, the only African governor who addressed the summit, said Africa must design her own solution  to the climate change challenge.

According to him, “Africa must respond but slowly to renewable energy. We copied democracy without modifications, so we are about copying climate change battle without designing our own solutions. Africa must not come to the international community cap in hand begging for pittance.”