African countries have been duped into signing agreements aimed at protecting the earth in the belief that better scientific technologies would be transferred to the continent, Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki said Monday.

He urged developed nations to take steps that could reduce emissions of greenhouse gases that are blamed for rapid climate change.

In a speech delivered on behalf of him by Vice President Moody Awori, Kibaki decried the complex nature of the international treaties, which have been signed to stop the misuse of natural resources across the globe.

"The notion that environmental concerns are not a developing countries' concern, I must say is a misconception. I speak for Kenya and for my brothers in the African continent. Together, we face the severest impacts of deteriorating environment," he lamented.

He was speaking in Nairobi during the opening of the UNEP Governing Council meeting, which brought together about 100 ministers of environment to seek solutions to environmental challenges facing the world.

Environment ministers from across the globe are gathering in Nairobi for a weeklong meeting to focus on strengthening the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) scientific research capacity and to review the organization's purchasing policies.

The ministerial meeting is discussing environmental management, the transfer of scientific innovations to poor nations and a focus on ways of curbing growing environmental degradation across the world.

"We are all vulnerable in one way or another. Our economies are vulnerable to repercussions for environmental problems like climate change, desertification, biodiversity loss and pollution," Kibaki warned.

He said Africa is also vulnerable to effects of global trade on hazardous chemicals and products, which have also contributed to the spread of other alien species into the continent's lakes and water masses, threatening their survival.

The 24th session of the UNEP governing council is seeking for ways of ensuring that global trade does not compromise health and safety of the planet.

President Kibaki said Africa was experiencing changing rain patterns, which was impacting negatively on food security as a result of lost agricultural production.

"We need to put in place policies coupled with adequate resources to address the issue (climate change) if we are to reverse the trend," he added.

Kibaki also called on the developed countries to support efforts to bridge the economic gap between rich and poor countries. saying the support would help the continent take environmental governance to greater heights for the benefit of the global environment.

Source: Xinhua