Mobilization at COP25 around the objectives of combating climate change: “The future of Africa depends on solidarity. "

AfBD NEWS & EVENTS

13-Dec-2019

Ministers, diplomats, NGO representatives and journalists have called, together, to build a united front to respond to the challenges posed by climate change in Africa, on the occasion of Africa Day organized Tuesday to the 25 th United Nations Climate Conference (COP25) in Madrid.

In a packed room at the IFEMA conference center, Yasmin Fouad, Egyptian Minister for Environmental Affairs, said on behalf of the African Union (AU) that he "continued the dialogue and sought acceptable solutions to the unresolved issues". resolved. We will continue to do so. We must, however, express our concern at the apparent reluctance of our interlocutors to take part in examining priority issues for developing countries, as shown by the large number of them which have simply been pushed back from session in session, without any progress ”.

Africa is the continent that contributes the least to emissions responsible for global warming, but it is also the most vulnerable continent, as natural disasters with devastating effects have recently shown. Africa accounts for 17% of the world's population, but only accounts for 4% of greenhouse gas emissions. Since COP17 in 2011, Africa Day has been held every year at the United Nations climate conference in order to garner the greatest support for the cause of the continent.

"The climate disasters facing the continent require a predictable and joint response," said Mohamed Beavogui, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations and Director General of African Risk Capacity, an AU agency responsible for assisting governments to deal with natural disasters.

“Africa must evolve towards innovative financing models based on the reality of the markets, so that it can set up a strong, united, resilient and influential continent on an international scale. The future of Africa depends on solidarity, ”said Mohamed Beavogui.

Vera Songwe, executive secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), said the commission would help African countries revise their Nationally Determined Contributions (CDN) to attract private sector investment in energy own. "The lack of ambition and of real concerted action at the international level to fight against climate change represents an existential threat for the African populations", she added.

In the fight against climate change, the Paris Agreement in 2015 is the driving force of the current negotiations. He calls on nations to ensure that global temperatures do not rise by more than 2 ° C by the end of the century, while seeking to contain this increase to less than 1.5 ° C. The next step will be to implement the NDCs, which define national targets under the Paris Agreement.

While African countries have emphasized in their NDCs their common will to build resilient and low-carbon economies, the continent's position is that this issue should not be treated in the same way as developed countries, because its carbon emissions are only a fraction of those of the major world economies.

“The African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) remains committed to partnering with other institutions to provide the necessary support to African Union member states in reviewing and updating their CDN, ”said Estherine Fotabong, director of programs at AUDA-NEPAD.

Barbara Creecy, South African Minister of the Environment and current chair of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment, said that Africa Day should come up with new ideas to improve the implementation of the NDCs on continent.

"Africa is already responding positively to the challenges posed by climate change," said Anthony Nyong, director of climate change and green growth at the African Development Bank, citing the considerable interest shown. for investments in renewable energy at the Bank's Africa Investment Forum in Johannesburg.

“Obviously, we are a continent that has the resources to create the Africa we want. I think what has been the missing link is the ability to stand out and act on market signals, ”added Anthony Nyong. “We continue to present Africa as a vulnerable entity and not as an entity with industrial and commercial capacities offering opportunities. In fact, where we have tried to present it under this last aspect, the results have fully met our expectations. "

Chief Fortune Charumbira, vice-president of the Pan-African Parliament, said that strong climate legislation was essential.

"The planet's response to this challenge has shown that the implementation of legislation is essential for consolidating the efforts made by the various stakeholders, both for the Paris Agreement and for the contributions determined at national level" , he said.

Ambassador Josefa Sacko, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture at the African Union Commission, said that climate change is affecting key sectors of Africa's socioeconomic development such as agriculture, livestock and fishing, energy, biodiversity and tourism. She called on African countries to take stock of the Paris Agreement and its implementation from the point of view of funding for capacity building and technology development.