Download Introduction Climate Change - European Capacity Building Initiative

Climate Change
global phenomenon,
impacts directly or indirectly on all the
inhabitants of the world
disadvantaged poor and marginalized
populations at the grassroots (often residing in
rural areas) that bear the brunt of the adverse
impacts of climate change.,
Factors contributing to inability to
cope

Perception by governments that
climate change issues are not as
important and are therefore
accorded low priority and not
integrated in government
development plans, policies and
activities.
FACTORS CONT.

Dwindling national resources and high
levels of poverty prevalent in most rural
areas is a major impediment to tackling
climate change impacts effectively. In fact,
poverty perpetuates climate change
impacts and vice versa.
FACTORS CONT.

Rural populations are more dependent on
the natural ecosystems around them for
their livelihoods e.g., for food, agriculture,
fishing, forestry products and services,
grazing ranges, etc. Consequently, any
interference with their surrounding natural
ecosystems due to climate change (or
otherwise) directly impacts on them.
FACTORS CONT.

Marginalized groups are often excluded
from climate change debates because they
are not major emitters.
FACTORS CONT.

Inadequate capacity (i.e., technical,
financial and institutional) targeting
mitigation and adaptation activities on
climate change impacts in rural areas has
seriously eroded their capacity to respond
to those impacts effectively, as well as their
resilience.
FACTORS CONT.

General ignorance (lack of awareness) and
lack of interest by the public on climate
change issues.
Adaptation

Whilst mitigation is important and should be
addressed, the potentially devastating
impacts of climate change on livelihoods in
Africa make adaptation the top priority for
Africa.
Funding

What are the best means of securing
adequate and predictable funding for
implementing practical adaptation activities?
Adaptation Fund

Decision 10/CP.7 established an Adaptation
Fund under the Kyoto Protocol. The fund is
primarily financed through the Share of
Proceeds (SOP) on the CDM and also
through voluntary contributions. The
objective of establishing the fund was to
finance concrete adaptation projects in
developing countries as well as activities
under para 8 of 5/CP.7 (adverse impacts).
Clean Development Mechanism
lack of CDM projects in sub-saharan Africa and the
resulting imbalance in the geographical distribution
of the CDM.
WHY
 a lack of enabling CDM investment environments;
 inadequate access to commercial credit;
 low level of fossil fuel use resulting in few
opportunities to reduce emissions; the rapidly closing
CDM investment window for pre-2012 credits which
makes projects from less risky regions than Africa
more attractive to international investors.

CDM
What can be done to boost the number
of CDM projects in regions with
relatively few registered projects,
particularly in Africa?
 How much can be learnt from existing
CDM projects in Africa? Can this
knowledge be used to build the
capacity of African institutions?

African Position


That the issue of the inequitable geographical
distribution of the CDM in Africa should be given
appropriate consideration by Parties and
observers at COP12/MOP2;
The need to improve procedures and adoption of
rules and methodologies conducive to projects in
the areas of methane avoidance (e.g.
composting), methane capture and flaring, nonrenewable biomass, bundling of small-scale
project activities, and programmes CDM;
CDM
The rules of the CDM need to be
reviewed, particularly those related to:
 The baseline for the non-renewable
biomass;
 Flexibility in the application of rules on
a project by project basis.

CDM

That International Financial Institutions
(IFIs) and donors to step up capacitybuilding efforts using learning-by-doing
approaches that bring African CDM
projects to market as they build necessary
capacities in Designated National
Authorities, and relevant public and private
sectors;
Financial Mechanism

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Access to funding has been a major problem for African countries.
The advent of the Resource Allocation Framework (RAF) does not
auger well for the region.
Long standing concerns with regard to co financing also need to be
sorted out during COP 12.
The need to operationalise the SCCF and the adequacy of funds
under the LDCF are also issues to be addressed.
Position Points
Difficulties in accessing GEF funds;
Resource Allocation Framework
Difficulties with co-financing- ratio of co-financing;
Deforestation

The issue of support for forest management and
associated avoided emissions is an important element for
the future.
African Position
 Recognition of past and present efforts in protecting
Tropical Forests Resources for example the Congo Basin
Initiatives which contribute significantly to global carbon
sink;
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Multilateral sources
Public and private partnerships
Payment for environmental services
Market mechanisms
Technology Transfer
Technology is accepted by virtually all as a
critical component of addressing climate
change, for both adaptation and mitigation.
 Poor access to technology persists and
there is little progress on technology
transfer agreements.
 A key barrier is the intellectual property
rights regime.

Sustainable Development
Capacity Building

Capacity building activities were consolidated
into an overall framework in Marrakesh. With the
entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol, capacity
building activities are now separated under the
Convention and the Protocol.
African position: Capacity Building


Capacity building is a priority for African
countries;
Efforts should be put towards monitoring the
implementation of the capacity building
framework.
Other issues
The material produced during the African
Negotiators workshop held in Naivasha is
available, and could inform the participants
further
 Thank you.
