South Africa won’t be ‘short changed’ in climate finance talks, Ramaphosa insists

President Cyril Ramaphosa says that government will not allow itself to be “short changed” or lumped with conditions that will undermine its developmental objectives when negotiating the details of a $8.5-billion climate-finance package with developed countries over the coming months. Responding to questions in Parliament on the issue, including one posed by Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema, Ramaphosa said that South Africa’s negotiating stance would be premised on ensuring that the eventual transaction took account of South Africa’s social and economic challenges, while affirming “our right to develop our economy in a sustainable and inclusive manner”.