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Climate Change: Issues and Events
Contents
Contents
Increasing donor confidence puts, 90
million USD in RECs’ Climate Change
initiative - 1
High Level partnership of Africa Climate
Solution launched at COP17 - 3
COMESA- DFID Sign 38 Million Pound Grant
Agreement to Support COMESA-EAC-SADC
Tripartite Climate Change Programme - 8
COMESA,EAC-SADC strategize on Climate
change - 11
COMESA- EAC and CCAFS , organise a PostDurban Dialogue on Climate change and
Agriculture - 12
COMESA- EAC-SADC Tripartite Vision on
Climate change, Lauded by AMSEN - 15
COMESA-EAC-SADC Youth hold a climate
change conference ahead of COP 17 - 16
Design and Photographs
Phillip Kambafwile
Printed by:
...........................................
Partners: the COMESA Climate change, and COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Climate Change Initiative
have been a success thanks to a number of Donors, major ones being: The European Union, The Royal
Norwegian Government, DFID and Rockefeller Foundation
For more information contact:
Mweusi Karake, PR & Communication Officer
Climate Change Initiative
[email protected]
Climate Change: Issues and Events
Increasing donor confidence puts, 90
million USD in RECs’ Climate Change
initiative
T
here is an old African wisdom that “good things sell themselves”. When the Common
Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA),Secretary General, Sindiso
Ngwenya launched what he called “ Africa Bio Carbon Initiative” at the fourteenth
Conference of parties (COP 14) on 10th November 2008, in Panazon Poland; the
first question that skeptics asked was “where will the money come from?” but as the
famous American singer John Berry once put it “ A good idea plus capable men [ read
women too]cannot fail; it is better than money in the bank”
By November 2008, COMESA was starting a Climate change programme with an initial
US Dollars (USD) 500,000 ( five hundred thousand) only; from Rockefeller foundation.
But that did not stop it dreaming of an African solution. With just a USD 500,000
budget!
From the time go, COMESA knew that no unwilling politicians, no immigration officer,
no overzealous security officer, no natural or artificial barriers will stand in front of
climate change and demand a passport, a license, or a movement pass. So COMESA
knew that to have a real solution to climate change one has to work with neghbours.
So COMESA, budget not withstanding; immediately offered its programme to the East
African Community (EAC) and Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) in the
spirit of the Tripartite, with an eye focusing at the whole of the African continent.
Just after the launch, December 2008, the Royal Norwegian government, injected in 17
million Kroner, which was then about 2.5 million US Dollars, another grant agreement
between COMESA and the Royal Norwegian government was signed, in 2009 worth
USD 1 million on behalf of COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite and in December 2011 an
additional 20 million USD making the total Norwegian grant 23.5 million. Earlier in
2010, the European Union had also come in with Euro four million ( Equivalent to 5.3
million Dollars), and USAID with USD 200,000, and last month ( 23rd march 2012), the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland acting through the Department
for International Development (DFID) signed a grant agreement with COMESA, on
behalf of the tripartite; worth British £ 38 million ( equivalent to 64 million USD) meant
to support the Programme on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in Eastern
and Southern Africa.
Thus as at end of March 2012, only three years and three months, after the launch, over
USD 90 million in different hard currencies had been mobilized for the programme.
Who can then dispute that a good idea is worth more than money in the bank?
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Climate Change: Issues and Events
What has been achieved so far? At the international level, it has been
thanks to this programme that agriculture has found itself on United
Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC), indeed the first
draft submission on agriculture that formed the basis for Africa Group
of negotiators at COP 15 in Copenhagen Poland; was developed by
COMESA in February 2009. Since COP 15, COMESA working with sister
RECs has mobilized and supported African negotiators, scientists, civil
societies to actively participate and lobby for the inclusion of agriculture
at COP15, COP 16 and COP 17. At COP 17, in Durban south Africa for the
first time, land mark decisions on agriculture were made.
This support will continue to ensure that Africa’s voice is heard. Thanks
to the capacity building that was provided, COMESA , this year ( February
2012) a number of countries made submissions to SBSTA. A number
of countries in Eastern and Southern Africa have also been assisted
draft their “National Appropriate Mitigation Actions” (NAMAs), and
some have made submissions. Some countries have also been assisted
mainstream climate change in national development plans. In additions,
thousands of farmers have so far been assisted practice climate smart
conservation agriculture.
Is 90 million USD a lot of money? Yes and no! Yes- taking into account
where we were three years ago and where we are today. No- if one was
to take into account the kind of challenges that climate change poses
in our region and resources needed. In the long-term, the programme
aims at enhancing sustainable natural resources management,
food security, livelihoods of rural populations, facilitate adaptation
to climate change, and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The
overall goal of the programme is to contribute to poverty reduction
and economic growth by addressing challenges of climate change. The
current programme runs up to 2015. It has given itself, amoung other
things; a target of getting at least 1.3 million small holder farmers, most
of these rural women into climate resilient agriculture. It intends to help
some countries access their vulnerability so as to take early response.
There is also an ambition to mainstream Climate change into school
curriculae, right at the tender age of kindergarten and primary schools.
And above all into the curricular of those who teach them. So more and
more money will be needed. COMESA-EAC-SADC population is around
600 million, assuming that 10 % are small famers, even if one was to
pick on just one area of support such as Conservation Agriculture,
expert estimate that, at least 2.4 Bn Dollars would be needed per year
if we were to reach every small farmer. The journey is still long, but as
the Chinese say “a journey of 1000 miles starts with one step.”
Climate Change: Issues and Events
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High Level partnership of Africa Climate
Solution launched at COP17
Children at COP17, being served. Climate change is a threat to the future
D
urban, South Africa: As the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change, (UNFCCC) headed to its conclusion, on Monday 5th December 2011 ; at a
Side Event, organised by Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA),
a tripartite agreement on climate change was launched by three African Regions
Economic Communities (RECs) aimed at harmonizing programmes approaches in
Eastern and Southern Africa. The involved RECs were: COMESA, the Eastern African
Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Partnering with the European Union, Royal Norwegian Government and the United
Kingdom.
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Climate Change: Issues and Events
Comoros Vice President, COMESA Secretary General and SADC Deputy Secretary General
Speaking at the launch of the initiative, COMESA Secretary General Sindiso Ngwenya
said the COMESA-EAC-SADC Climate Change initiative is a “novel idea involving building
blocks of African Economic communities, that not only occupy a contiguous space on
the continent but also have overlapping memberships; which stems from the need to
harmonise programme approaches among these three RECs”.
He added that the first flagship programme of the Tripartite is the creation of a
grand Free Trade Area from Cape to Cairo, followed by an ambitious infrastructure
development programme; that will seamlessly interconnect the Eastern and Southern
Africa. The membership of the three RECs constitute half the African continent.
Comoros’ Vice President Fouad Mohadji who officially launched the initiative said the
new partnership is a testimony of the engagement of the countries’ partnership.
The Vice President was of the view that the partnership will help scale-up agriculture
programmes and contribute to the growth of local communities in the three regions.
Mr Mohadji added that the main aim of the Tripartite Climate Change initiative is to
support the African efforts at UNFCCC to ensure that agriculture is accommodated in a
manner that is responsive to the interests of Africa and its people.
Climate Change: Issues and Events
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“Africa has always been about additional resources, technology and enhanced capacity
to enable the continent adapt to climate change as well as realise its full adaptation
and mitigation potentials” he pointed out; adding that for small island nations climate
change is a matter of survival. “our very existence is threatened” he emphasized
“Capacity building is required for stakeholders in Africa to articulate, mobilise and
sustainably implement adaptation and mitigation interventions that benefit the
majority of Africans” he concluded.
As indicated, the tripartite initiative is supported by Norway, EU and DfID in a multi
–donor financial arrangement. Besides, supporting Africa’s presence at UNFCCC;
its initial focus is to scale up climate smart agriculture among the most vulnerable
smallholder farmers many of whom are women.
Through this partnership, Europe teamed up with Africa to come up with a new
cooperation arrangement that will support Africa to address the most pressing
challenges to food security; through the wide adoption of climate smart agriculture;
building the capacity of African institutions, to handle climate change and lay the
foundation for the continent’s sustainable green growth and development.
Millions of different hard currencies, will be given to the initiative to undertake
programmes that focus on up scaling climate smart agriculture among the most
vulnerable smallholder farmers many of who are women for a period of five years.
Speaking at the launch, United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Special Representative on
Climate Change John Aston said there is
need to rebuild the development model
which he said had been broken.“We are
biting much already; we will not have
security unless we lay a foundation on the
four basic pillars that include water, food,
energy and shelter.” he said. “ Every time
I come to Africa I wish that our financiers
would come and learn from Africa’s
lessons on resilience. We have lost value
of resilient”. He said
Mr. Aston added that the partnership will
give Africa a voice that has in the past been
weak. He said the initiative offers a great
opportunity for security and a stronger
response to climate change
The royal Norwegian government was
“
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Every time I come to Africa I wish that
our financiers would come and learn
from Africa’s lessons on resilience. We
have lost value of resilient”
Climate Change: Issues and Events
represented at the event by Mr. Arvin Godgil, Deputy Minister for environment who
immediately announced a Euro 20 million in support of the programme.
And
SADC
Deputy
Secretary Executive Joao
Kaholo , who represented
his institution at the
event, said that to Africa
climate change means
drought, flood and loss
of productivity due to
human activity. “To have
this partnership that will
support the enhancement
of
climate
change
programmes in Africa is
commendable,” he noted.
The Deputy Secretary
General of EAC Jean Claude Nsengiyumva, praised the partnership and thanked
COMESA for spearheading the initiative.
About the COMESA-EAC-SADC Climate change solution
The tripartite Climate Change solution that was launched on Monday 5th December
2011; places a priority on increasing the resilience of the poor to climate related
changes by scaling up climate resilient farming practices such as conservation
agriculture and agro forestry.
The support to the programme will enable evidence-based policy interventions
to increase climate resilience, particularly linked to food security, across countries
in Eastern and Southern Africa. It will also provide targeted evidenced-based
training to small-scale farmers to introduce climate resilient agriculture practices.
Demonstration of successful trials and scaled up practices will be used to access
climate finance through the championship of the Tripartite.
Expected results include: 250,000 small scale farmers using climate resilient
agriculture practices; a 10% increase of farmed land in key countries under climate
resilient farming systems; a 20% increase in yields amongst trained farmers; at least
10 countries more climate resilient through strengthened assessment and analysis of
vulnerability; and US$300m climate finance leveraged. Major donors supporting the
Africa Climate Solution are Norway, the EU, UK and DFID.
Climate Change: Issues and Events
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In pictures COMESA holding consultations with different stakeholders and partners at COP17
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Climate Change: Issues and Events
COMESA- DFID Sign 38 Million Pound Grant
Agreement to Support COMESA-EAC-SADC
Tripartite Climate Change Programme
Pretoria 23rd March 2012,
T
he Common Market for
Eastern and Southern
Africa (COMESA) on behalf
of
the
COMESA-EACSADC Tripartite and the
Government of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland acting
through the Department for
International Development
(DFID), on 23rd march 2012,
signed a grant agreement
worth British £ 38 million
meant to support the
Programme on Climate
Change Adaptation and
Mitigation in Eastern and
Southern Africa (COMESAEAC-SADC) region. The
project is scheduled to run
from April 2012, to March
2015
The agreement was signed by the COMESA Secretary General Sindiso Ngwenya, who
is also the chairman of the COMESA-SADC-EAC Tripartite Task Force on behalf of the
Tripartite; and Sarah Dunn head DFID Southern Africa on behalf of the Government of
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Out of the £38 million, £27 million will be used to improve quality and harmonization
of policy on climate resilient agriculture, informed by evidence; and to support famers
scale-up Climate Smart Agriculture in Eastern and Southern Africa by using improved,
locally relevant climate resilient agriculture practices in order to increase their climate
resilience.
£5 million will support evidence and learning on climate resilient agriculture practices,
to enhance effectiveness of programme delivery and global knowledge, whereas
£6 million will support policy responses to vulnerability constantly informed and
Climate Change: Issues and Events
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influenced by improved assessment of climate vulnerability (who, where, and why)
across the region.
In 2010, following a visit by the Secretary Generals of the three Regional Economic
Communities (RECs) to London, an MOU was signed between the RECs and the UK
Government’s Department for International Development (DFID), entering into a cooperation agreement that, moved the already existing relationship to a greater height.
DFID and the Tripartite have been working closely over the years in strengthening
the Tripartite which coordinates arrangements between COMESA, EAC and SADC to
deepen regional integration; economic growth and poverty reduction in Africa.
On 5th December 2010, at the margins of the United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 17th Conference of parties (COP17), that took place
in Durban South Africa, at a COMESA organized high level side event, the European
Union, Norway and UK launched a high-level partnership on climate change solution,
where they agreed to team up with Africa to come up with a new cooperation
arrangement that will support Africa to address the most pressing challenges to food
security through the wide adoption of climate smart agriculture.
Speaking at the launch, United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Special Representative on
Climate Change, John Aston, said there is need to rebuild the development model
which he said has been broken. He called upon the international community to learn
lessons from Africa’s resilience.
COMESA Participates at the UN climate
change conference in Durban
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Secretariat has
since 2009 been participating in UN Climate Change conferences. Thus in NovemberDecember2011, COMESA was represented at the UNFCC/ Seventeenth Conference of
Parties (COP17) that ran from 28th November through to 9th December in Durban,
South Africa.
The COMESA team was led by the COMESA Secretary General Sindiso Ngwenya.
COMESA also sponsored different delegates from Member states that included
government officials, civil societies, youth organizations and the media to ensure that
Africa’s voice was loud and clear. COMESA also set up a stand in the African pavilion
where they shared information on COMESA Climate Change programmes and learning
from experiences from other stakeholders.
This being the first conference of parties on the African soil, three African leaders
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Climate Change: Issues and Events
launched the Africa Pavilion at the meeting. Presidents Jacob Zuma of host country,
South Africa, Idriss Déby of Chad, and Vice President Fernando da Piedade Dias dos
Santos of Angola visited the Africa Pavilion as the conference got underway. The three
leaders insisted that Africa’s voice be heard collectively throughout this key UN event.
Visiting an authentic larger-than-life simulation of an African rain forest spanning 500
square metres, President Zuma said: “This pavilion puts up a very powerful case for
the continent of Africa. People will come here not just to discuss theories and imagine
Africa. They are going to see it in reality. I think this is an absolute innovation we have
made.” The South African President added: “This pavilion represents Africa in its
totality. And I think it makes a powerful case to this conference.”
The idea of an African Pavilion was originated by COMESA Climate Change advisor,
Dr Maclay Kanyangarara, who sold it to Mrs Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, Africa Union
Commissioner for Agriculture. Once the idea was widely bought, The Africa
Development Bank (AfDB) provided the funding. Both AUC Chairman Dr Jean Ping, and
AfDB president Dr Donald Kaberuka, visited the COMESA pavilion.
The Africa Pavilion, which was located within the precincts of the UNFCCC, served as a
platform to have Africa’s voice heard. To demonstrate Africa’s ability to be part of the
solution to the challenges of climate change on the continent, the Pavilion hosted a
full program of roundtables and events during the UN climate conference.
AfDB President, Dr Donald Kaberuka and COMESA Secretary General, Sindiso Ngwenya at the COMESA
pavilion
Climate Change: Issues and Events
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COMESA,EAC-SADC strategize on
Climate change
Participants to the tripartite Climate change strategic meeting.
Arusha, Tanzania: Senior officers dealing with different aspects of climate change, from
the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African
Community, (EAC), and the Southern Africa Development Community(SADC) met
at the East African Hotel, Arusha, Tanzania on 21-22 February 2012, for an annual
planning on Tripartite climate change adaptation and mitigation programme.
The EAC team that hosted the three Regional Economic Community (RECs) was led by
Ms Wivine Yolande Ntamubano, Principal Environment and Natural Resources Officer
at the EAC secretariat, who also chaired the meeting, the COMESA team was led by Dr
Mclay Kanyangarara, the COMESA Climate Change advisor, whereas the SADC team
was led by Ms Margaret Nyirenda; Director Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources
at SADC secretariat.EAC is based in Arusha Tanzania, whereas COMESA and SADC are
based in Lusaka, Zambia and Gaborone, Botswana respectively.
The three RECs deliberated on the work programme and potential activities identifying
strength of each, with the view to provide leadership and support to sister RECs making
the implementation easier and avoiding duplication. They also looked at available
budget and funding, including existing and potential contribution agreements with the
view to equitably share these resources, as well as engage donors with one voice.
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Climate Change: Issues and Events
COMESA,SADC and EAC are amoung the eight building blocks recognized by the Africa
union and constitute a joint membership of half the African countries and aver 51
percent of the total African population. Their decision to work together on important
issues such as climate change therefore speaks volume.
The Programme on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in the COMESA-EACSADC region is a five-year initiative that started in July 2010, whose aim is to inject
Africa’s Unified Position on Climate Change into the post-2012 United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) global agreement; so as to unlock
resources for promoting strategic interventions that sustain productivity and livelihood
improvements for millions of climate-vulnerable people in the region.
COMESA- EAC and CCAFS , organise
a Post-Durban Dialogue on Climate
change and Agriculture
Arusha, Johannesburg and Bujumbura: The importance of agriculture to economic
growth and rural livelihoods, its vulnerability to climate change implies that building
resilience to climate change in Africa must be of primary importance. In this regard
comprehensive agricultural adaptation and mitigation strategies to meet food and
income needs of current and future generations have to be implemented.
Taking the above importance, The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa
(COMESA) has been promoting the inclusion of Agriculture on the UNFCC negotiations.
For the first time in history, at the recently concluded seventeenth Conference of the
Parties (COP17) held on 28th November- 8th December 2011 in Durban, South Africa,
parties agreed to establish a framework for exchanging views on issues related to
agriculture under the Subsidiary Body on Scientific Technical Advice (SBSTA)
Participants at post-Durban Dialogue on CC and agriculture
Climate Change: Issues and Events
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Parties to the negotiations were expected to make submissions to SBSTA not later that
5th March 2012. To assist parties in Eastern and Southern Africa. COMESA, the East
African Community (EAC); in collaboration with Climate Change Agriculture and Food
Security (CCAFS-EA), a global programme of the Consultative Group on International
Agricultural Research (CGIAR), mid February 2012 jointly organised a regional climate
change meeting of experts. The meeting brought together climate change and
agriculture experts from Central, Eastern, Northern and the Hone of Africa namely:
Burundi, R D Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.
Participants were drawn from government institutions, farmer organizations, research
institutions, civil society organizations, universities, the private sector, and NGOs; with
a view to developing a common position on issues related to SBSTA submission.
The three-day meeting that started on 14th February 2012 at Mt. Meru Hotel, Arusha
– Tanzania, examined the outcome of UNFCCC/COP 17. The meeting focused on
decisions on agriculture with a view to propose activities that would be considered
under the agricultural work programme by Parties (members of UNFCCC). The meetings
were facilitated by Dr George Wamukoya, COMESA Climate change advisor, who is also
a highly experienced climate change negotiator.
At the end of the meeting participants came up with a draft submission paper that
each party would tailor to its needs prior to submission to SBSTA. COMESA as the
Africa largest Economic grouping also made its submission as an observer to UNFCC.
In order to ensure full participation of its members, a follow up meeting was held
for its Southern Africa members in Johannesburg, South Africa; just after the Arusha
meeting. A national dialogue meeting was also held in Bujumbura Burundi, at the
request of the Government of Burundi to assist the country meet the 5th February
submission deadline.
COMESA Countries lead in submission
to SBSTA
Article 9 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change establishes
an open-ended intergovernmental scientific advisory body known as the Subsidiary
Body on Scientific Technical Advice (SBSTA); to provide the Conference of the Parties
(COP) and, as appropriate, to its other subsidiary bodies, with timely advice relating
to the implementation of the Convention; SBSTA is to report regularly to the COP on
all aspects of its work. Multidisciplinary and open to participation by all Parties, SBSTA
comprises government representatives competent in the relevant field of expertise. Its
functions include: providing assessments of the status of biological diversity; providing
assessments of the types of measures taken in accordance with the provisions of the
Convention; and responding to questions that the COP may put to the body.
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Climate Change: Issues and Events
At the 17th Conference of Parties (COP17), held in Durban South Africa, an agreement
was reached to mandate SBSTA, at its May-June 2012 session, to consider issues related
to agriculture with a view to preparing a decision to be adopted at COP18 in NovemberDecember 2012 to be held in Qatar. Consequently, Parties and Observer Organizations
were expected to make submissions to the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCC) Secretariat, on such issues relating to agriculture by 5 March
2012.
A visit to UNFCC website revealed that by the D date, seven African counties namely:
Burundi, Malawi, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia, had made their
national submission, Gambia made submission on behalf of Least Developed Countries
(LDCs) with inputs from Malawi incorporating outcomes of the Post -Durban dialogue.
Out of the seven that made national submission, five are COMESA countries. The other
two had also participated in the COMESA-CCAFS, organized post-Durban dialogue
meetings that took place in February 2012.
To assist parties in Eastern and Southern Africa , COMESA, in collaboration with
Climate Change Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS-EA), a global programme of the
Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), in February 2012
jointly organized two meetings, one in Arusha Tanzania, for Central, East, North and
Horn of Africa countries, and another in Johannesburg, South Africa, for Southern
Africa Countries with the view to assist them come up with a working document that
they could adopt for their national submission. It is not surprising therefore that all the
seven countries that met the deadline had been present at these meetings.
Participants at the Burundi SBSTA national dialogue
Climate Change: Issues and Events
14
In the case of Burundi, COMESA provided additional direct support, through a
consultative workshop held in Bujumbura, Burundi on the 4th February 2012;which
was attended by senior officers and delegates from The Ministry of Water, environment,
territory management and urbanization, the Ministry of energy and mining, the
Ministry of agriculture and livestock, and the Office of the President. This allowed
Burundi finilise her submission on time. Dr Jean Marie Nibirantije, Minister of Water,
environment, territory management and urbanization of the Republic of Burundi,
officiated as the guest of honour to the function.
COMESA- EAC-SADC Tripartite Vision
on Climate change, Lauded by AMSEN
Bamako, Mali: The East African Community (EAC) the Common Market for Eastern
and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Southern African Development Community
( SADC) have already initiated the establishing of the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite
Climate change programme to facilitate their long-term vision of working together.
Announcing the Vision to the 4th Special Africa Ministerial Conference on Environment
(AMCEN), taking place in Bamako Mali on 15-16 September 2011, the EAC Deputy
Secretary General, Productive and Social sector Jean Claude Nsengiyumwa, stated
that, the visions will be centered on climate change programming focusing on
policy negotiations and programmatic activities, by the three Regional Economic
Communities, that are currently under the Tripartite arrangement.
The COMESA-EAC-SADC tripartite initiative was lauded by the meeting as in line with
the overall AMCEN vision that seeks to have the whole of Africa speak with one voice
at Climate change fora.
The main objective of the Fourth Special Session of AMCEN was to provide a platform
for African countries to further consolidate and enhance Africa’s common negotiating
position for the 17th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Conference of Parties(COP 17), that was to be held in November/December 2011 in
Durban South Africa. The special session provided an opportunity for Ministers to
discuss the Climate Green Fund and Africa’s preparations for Rio+20 including the
transitioning towards a Green Economy; and the need to strengthen international
environmental governance in the context of institutional framework for sustainable
development. The need to include agriculture in climate change negotiations was
emphasized.
Earlier Speaking at an experts preparatory meeting, the COMESA Climate change
advisor Dr Mclay Kanyangarara outlined decisions made by the joint COMESA Ministers
of Agriculture and Environment held in Swaziland in June 2011. Pointing out amoung
other things that, the Ministers had decided that: Ministers of Agriculture should
Climate Change: Issues and Events
15
proactively engage in the ongoing climate change discussions in the period up to, during
and beyond COP 17 to ensure a decision is reached on agriculture which is responsive
to the African situation; and that Member States should include agricultural experts in
their multi-disciplinary climate change negotiations teams and ensure consistency and
adequate negotiations skills and logistical support.
AMCEN was established in December 1985, following a conference of African ministers of
environment held in Cairo, Egypt. Its mandate is to provide advocacy for environmental
protection in Africa; to ensure that basic human needs are met adequately and in a
sustainable manner; to guarantee that social and economic development is realized
at all levels; and to make sure that agricultural activities and practices meet the food
security needs of Africa.
COMESA-EAC-SADC Youth hold a
climate change conference ahead of
COP 17
Lusaka, Zambia: The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and
Green Enviro-Watch a non profit making Environmental youth Organization based in
Lusaka, Zambia in October 2011 co- organised a regional youth Conference.
The conference took place on 18- 21st October, 2011 at the Mulungushi International
Conference Centre, Lusaka Zambia under the theme: “Enhanced Youth Engagement
& Participation in Climate Change for Integrated Sustainable Development in Africa”.
The conference attracted participation of over 350 youths and youth organization from
different countries of COMESA, East African Community(EAC) and the Southern African
development Community (SADC) region as well as across Africa and other continents.
In Zambia participants were drawn from all the 73 districts for equal opportunities and
representation.
The objective of the conference was to create a platform for the Youth in the region
to increase and enhance their engagement and participation in the developmental
process of their countries, consolidate the Cancun outcomes as well as come up with
an African Regional Youth declaration on Climate Change; with recommendations to
be submitted to the Seventeen United Nations Framework Conversion on Climate
Change (UNFCCC)/ Conference of Parties (COP 17) that was scheduled to take place in
December in Durban, South Africa.
Speaking at the opening session the COMESA Secretary General Sindiso Ngwenya
Climate Change: Issues and Events
16
in his speech read on his
behalf, by the COMESA Climate
Change Adviser Dr Mclay
Kanyangarara,
expressed
COMESA’s
commitment
to
support the youth in all aspects
of development due to their
numbers and important role
they play “I am proud that
COMESA played a major role
in facilitating the successful
hosting of this great convention.
COMESA understands the important role that should be played by the youth, who are
indeed the future managers of our planet. It is for this reason that we have committed
ourselves to work with youth organizations to fight climate change for integrated
sustainable development in Africa” said Mr. Ngwenya.
“Today’s world population is younger than ever before, with nearly 2.2 billion people
under the age of 18 of which 85 percent live in developing countries; most of them
in Sub-Saharan Africa where most of COMESA-EAC-SADC countries are located. We at
COMESA therefore get very excited when an opportunity to support the youth arises
so that they play an important role in addressing issues that affect the world such as
climate change” he added.
The conference addressed a number of issues affecting all social groupings and
communities across Africa. The youth discussed different intriguing topics on climate
change such as: Overview of Climate Change in the Region (Causes, effects and impact
of climate change on trade, food production and social-economic development),
National and International Policy: Linking policy and practice, development planning
and youth involvement in decision making for climate change activities; low emission
development; green products production, clean development mechanisms and role
of mines and industries in environmental protection and pollution control, science
technology innovations and entrepreneurship; climate information development;
gender and adaptation, youth driven climate resilience development (leveraging
technical assistance for capacity building, priority areas of support to climate youth
driven programs) as well as role of private sector, civil society organizations, faith
based organizations and individuals in climate proofing and resilience building of poor
communities and countries at large. The list of topics discussed is endless!
In 2010, COMESA supported a similar conference in Lilongwe Malawi ahead of COP 16.
COMESA has also supported youth representation in some previous COPs. A similar
youth conference is scheduled to take place, at a venue and date to be determined
ahead of the Eighteenths Conference of Parties (COP 18) that will take place in, Qatar
in November December 2012
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Contact Address:
COMESA SECRETARIAT, COMESA Center , Ben Bella Road
P.O. Box 30051, Lusaka - Zambia
T. 260 211 229 725-30
F. 260 211 225 107
www.comesa.int, [email protected]
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