Climate Change: African Climate Change: African Perspectives for a post-2012 Perspectives for a post-2012

AgreementAgreement

ECA Presentation to the Committee of Experts

27 March 2008

Addis Ababa

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Outline of the presentationOutline of the presentation

Introduction

Climate change and sustainable development in Africa

Facing up to the climate change challenge: Global response and implications for Africa

Facing up to the climate change challenge in Africa: Regional responses

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IntroductionIntroduction There is compelling evidence that climate change is

a serious sustainable development challenge -- not only an environmental issue

Climate change is caused by anthropogenic Greenhouse Gas (GHGs) emissions

Energy production and use, land use change, especially deforestation are main sources of GHGs in Africa

Climate change impacts will affect all countries

Developing countries and the poor will bear disproportionately high negative impacts

Consequently, climate change may undermine the ability of developing countries to achieve MDGs

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Climate Change and Sustainable Climate Change and Sustainable Development in AfricaDevelopment in Africa

Africa contributes only about 3.8% of total GHGs

Yet African countries are among the most vulnerable to climate change, because of many factors:

High poverty levels

Heavy reliance on climate-sensitive sectors (e.g. rain-fed agriculture, fisheries, forests, tourism, etc.)

Poor economic and social infrastructure

Existing stresses on health and well being (e.g., HIV/AIDS, illiteracy)

Conflicts

Low adaptive capacity (limited human, institutional, technological and financial capacities)

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Climate change and Sustainable Climate change and Sustainable Development in AfricaDevelopment in Africa

Africa is already witnessing impacts of Climate change, which will worsen with time, if decisive actions are not taken now: Constrained agricultural production and increasing food

insecurity

Increasing water stress and related water conflicts

Increasing energy constraints, further impeding industrial development

Expanding range and prevalence of vector-borne diseases (malaria, cholera, yellow fever, rift valley fever)

Rising sea level impacting livelihoods in coastal areas

Loss of biodiversity, forests and other natural habitats

Increased risks of conflicts arising from climate-induced population migrations

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Facing up to the Climate Change Challenge: Facing up to the Climate Change Challenge: Global ResponseGlobal Response

A framework for continued global action shaped by the Bali UNFCC COP 13/Kyoto Protocol MOP 3 outcomes:

Decision adopted to operationalise the Adaptation Fund for developing countries (Board Secretariat at GEF, WB as trustee)

Capacity Building: submissions invited on monitoring and evaluation of capacity building at the national level by 15 August 2008

Parties requested to continue to assist developing countries, particularly LDCs and SIDS, to attract CDM projects in Africa

Technology Transfer: Regional training workshops and meetings on technologies for adaptation to be organized

Urgent need to take further meaningful action to reduce emissions from deforestation in developing countries

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Facing up to the Climate Change Challenge: Facing up to the Climate Change Challenge: Global ResponseGlobal Response

Bali Roadmap: a two-year process of multilateral negotiation to finalize a post-2012 global agreement (regime) on climate change by December 2009

Review of the Protocol scheduled from 2008

Negotiations to be articulated around:

Mitigation

Adaptation

Technology development and transfer

Financing

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Global Response to the Climate Change Global Response to the Climate Change Challenge: Implications for AfricaChallenge: Implications for Africa

Africa’s preparation to ensure that the concerns of the region are well articulated and reflected in post-2012 negotiations and decisions

Main issues of Concern for Africa relate to: Modalities for the review of the Protocol (comprehensive

revision vs. review of specific issues)

The developmental agenda of the Convention and Protocol

Funding and capacity building

Need for increased participation in flexible mechanisms (e.g. carbon trade and CDM)

Technology development and transfer

Fulfilment of commitments under the Protocol by the developed countries

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Global Response to the Climate Change Global Response to the Climate Change Challenge: Implications for AfricaChallenge: Implications for Africa

Need for an effective regional preparatory Need for an effective regional preparatory process for the negotiations of post-2012 regime, process for the negotiations of post-2012 regime, which:which:

Effectively engages all African countries signatory to the Protocol, the RECs and other stakeholders

Should effectively guide and prepare African countries for the review of the Protocol

Should ensure well-articulated African consensus positions on post-2012 issues

Should strengthen Africa’s negotiating position in all post-2012 issues following the 2008 review

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Facing up to the Climate Change Challenge Facing up to the Climate Change Challenge in Africa: Regional Responsesin Africa: Regional Responses

Explicit commitment at the highest political level to tackle climate change:

Decisions and declaration of the Eighth Ordinary Session of the African Union held in January 2007

Resolution of Fortieth session of the ECA Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development

Two-track Challenges:

Regional preparations for the post-2012 regime negotiations

Mainstreaming climate change into the core development agenda

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Facing up to the Climate Change Challenge Facing up to the Climate Change Challenge in Africa: Regional Responsesin Africa: Regional Responses

Follow up through the AUC-ECA-AfDB partnership initiative of the Climate and Development in Africa (ClimDev Africa) programme to address gaps in:

Core development policies, strategies and frameworks

Climate risk management practices in priority climate sensitive sectors

Climate information services for stakeholders

Climate observations and data

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Facing up to the Climate Change Challenge Facing up to the Climate Change Challenge in Africa: Regional Responsesin Africa: Regional Responses

Follow up through ECA’s commitment and initiative to establish an African Climate Policy Centre (ACPC):

For adequate delivery on the Policy component of the ClimDev Africa programme

To assist, through the AUC and RECs, Africa’s preparation and participation to the post-2012 regime negotiations

To support efforts of member States in mainstreaming climate change concerns into their development policies and frameworks

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Facing up to the Climate Change Challenge Facing up to the Climate Change Challenge in Africa: Regional Responsesin Africa: Regional Responses

APCP: A regional capacity hub to generate and administer an adequate base of knowledge to address climate change challenge for sustainable development

APCP will focus on climate-related:

Policy research and analysis

Consensus building at the regional level

Capacity strengthening, technical advice and assistance

Communication and outreach

Knowledge management and peer learning (Launching of Knowledge sharing COP on 31 March 2008)

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Facing up to the Climate Change Challenge Facing up to the Climate Change Challenge in Africa: Regional Responsesin Africa: Regional Responses

African Climate Policy Centre (ACPC) building on strong partnerships with:

African regional and sub-regional climate institutions (ACMAD, ICPAC, OSS, etc.), research institutions and universities

South-south cooperation with the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) of India

UNEP (special collaboration on CC economics)

Relevant specialized UN agencies and international institutions

ACPC: a Centre that needs your endorsement and partners’ support for immediate operationalisation

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Thank youThank you