JOHANNESBURG, 14 December 2007 (IRIN) - CONTENTS

COMOROS: Instability spells decline MOZAMBIQUE: What price the benefits of foreign investment? GLOBAL: Climate change - heating up conflict ZIMBABWE: The usual president looks set to run again

GLOBAL: More extreme weather in poorer countries ZIMBABWE: MDC bruised but not yet beaten GLOBAL: "Save the water", warn world weather watchers SOUTH AFRICA: How much free water is enough? AFRICA: Tackling deforestation is critical GLOBAL: Not enough money to keep small islands afloat

COMOROS: Instability spells decline

The prospects for a peaceful resolution to the deepening political impasse between Anjouan, one of three semi-autonomous islands that make up the Indian Ocean archipelago of Comoros, and the Union government, are becoming ever less likely.

Individual island elections in June reignited hostility between Anjouan and the other two islands in the group, Grande Comore and Moheli. Efforts by the African Union (AU) to negotiate a deal and the imposition of sanctions targeting the freedoms and financial assets of Anjouan's leadership since then have failed to break the deadlock.

See full report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75813

MOZAMBIQUE: What price the benefits of foreign investment?

The Mozal aluminium plant is a symbol of Mozambique's red-hot economy, touted as a symbol of the investor-friendly environment that led the Wall Street Journal to declare the country "an African success story".

Mozal's exports have increased Mozambique's gross domestic product (GDP) by between 3.2 and 5 percent. Its output represents almost half the country's growth in manufacturing. But in spite of these apparent benefits, Mozal has contributed little to the country's development.

See report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75790

GLOBAL: Climate change - heating up conflict

Increasing pressure caused by climate change on essential resources like water could not only trigger domestic conflicts but also have a destabilising effect globally, warned UN officials.

"It is not far-fetched to begin to see growing tensions; not far fetched to think climate change will globally have a destabilising effect," said Achim Steiner, Executive Secretary of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), who drew a scenario in which countries heavily affected by climate change would blame those not seen as doing enough to cut emissions.

Experts at the UN climate change conference in Bali, Indonesia, said environmental shocks could outpace the adaptive capacities of some societies in the coming decades and warned that by 2020 up to 250 million people in Africa could be exposed to increased water stress, and food production could be halved. Fresh water availability in Asia was also expected to fall.

See report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75787

ZIMBABWE: The usual president looks set to run again

Zimbabwe's war veterans are camped outside the conference hall of a critical congress of the ruling ZANU-PF party this week, determined that President Robert Mugabe, 83, stays in office until he retires.

Mugabe, who has led the party since 1977, seemed on the ropes 12 months ago. Last year's congress refused to endorse a resolution for him to remain in power beyond the end of his term in 2008.

Moreover, Zimbabwe's economic and humanitarian crisis spelled electoral doom for ZANU-PF, and his rivals knew that only with Mugabe gone would the international community consider bailing the country out. But Mugabe seems to have succeeded in turning the tables on internal dissent.

See report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75836

GLOBAL: More extreme weather in poorer countries

Developing countries top a 2008 Climate Risk Index released in the Indonesian island of Bali, where the United Nations climate change conference is taking place.

The index shows that less developed countries often suffer more from storms, floods and extreme weather than industrialised countries, according to Germanwatch, the development non-governmental organisation that produced the study.

See report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75810

ZIMBABWE: MDC bruised but not yet beaten

Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is in trouble: already split into feuding factions, it now risks being deserted by its key allies ahead of next year's elections.

Labour movement and civil society groups are concerned over the 'compromises' the MDC has made in low-key talks with the ruling ZANU-PF party, and a growing intolerance within the opposition party, underlined by reports of intimidation and violence against members, analysts say.

See report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75759

GLOBAL: "Save the water", warn world weather watchers

The decade from 1998 to 2007 has been the warmest on record, according to the UN World Meteorological Organisation, and with temperatures rising, access to water will be a critical issue for poorer nations.

Although solutions to save water are already available, countries need to take action to implement strategies in national action plans now, experts warned.

See report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75858

SOUTH AFRICA: How much free water is enough

South Africa's High Court is poised to rule whether Johannesburg's decision to introduce a multimillion-dollar prepaid water system in the country's largest township, Soweto, southwest of the city, is in violation of the residents' right to free water.

The court has been asked to order the city to provide at least 50 litres of free water per person per day, double what many Soweto residents currently receive, and allow the option to keep using the old system still operated elsewhere in the city, in which unlimited water is available for a flat fee. A ruling is not expected until early next year, but some people are not prepared to wait that long.

See report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75867

AFRICA: Tackling deforestation is critical

Forests in Africa will continue to be decimated unless money is invested in renewable energy resources, warned officials at a UN meeting on climate change being hailed as a "forest conference".

The meeting in Bali, to launch negotiations for a new agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions after 2012, has recognised the need to deal with deforestation to stem global warming.

See report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75868

GLOBAL: Not enough money to keep small islands afloat

The new Adaptation Fund for vulnerable countries to cope with global warming, announced at the climate change summit on the Indonesian island of Bali, will not be adequate, said an official of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).

Global warming could alter the size and coastlines of some members of the 44-country coalition of small islands and low-lying coastal countries, including Mauritius, Comoros, Sao Tome, Guinea Bissau and Seychelles, all in the Indian Ocean.

See report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75874

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