Transcript Introduction and objectives of the meeting

Special Session of the African Ministerial
Conference on the Environment on
climate change
Peter Acquah (PhD)
AMCEN Secretary
Regional Office for Africa
UNEP
Sponsors - Special Session of
AMCEN on climate change
Direct support provided by the following
for the Special Session of AMCEN is
gratefully acknowledged
UNEP
Denmark
Kenya
UNECA
Norway
COMESA
Sponsors – AMCEN’s work on
climate change
Support provided by the following is
gratefully acknowledged
 Denmark
 UNEP
 WWF
 AfDB
 OSS
Further support from partners will be
most welcome
Special Session of AMCEN on climate change
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Welcome to the special session of AMCEN on
climate change – the third Special Session of
AMCEN in the 24yr. History of AMCEN.
Pre-session events
Meeting of the African high Level Expert Panel
on Climate Change serving as the preparatory
meeting for the Special Session of AMCEN on
climate change.
AMCEN is a Specialized Technical Committee of
the African Union.
AMCEN/SS/III/INF/1 – Information Note ….
NEPAD Environment Initiative Action Plan
(2003)
Combating land degradation, drought and
desertification;
Conserving Africa’s wetlands;
Prevention, control, and management of
invasive alien species;
Conservation and sustainable use of marine,
coastal and freshwater resources;
Combating Climate Change in Africa;
Transboundary conservation or management
of natural resources.
Historical overview
 Establishment of an AWG to initiate a process to
consider further commitments for Parties included in
Annex I for the period beyond 2012 in 2005;
 Subregional environmental action plans of the
environment initiative of NEPAD preparation and
increased climate change concerns;
 First African position paper for African Group of
negotiators in 2006 (COP 12/CMP2);
 Heightening of AMCEN’s concerns regarding climate
change in 2007
Twelfth Session of AMCEN
(June 2008)
 Ministerial Policy Dialogue – President of AMCEN Summary
included specific suggestions include elements for the process of
developing a common position.
 Decision 2 on climate change:
 Africa’s preparations for developing a common negotiating position on
a comprehensive international climate change regime beyond 2012;
 Comprehensive framework of African climate change programmes.
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The first phase of the Secretariat’s work::
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trust building,
resource mobilization;
consensus building; and
laying the foundation for the various actors in Africa to work in concert
Ministerial Policy Dialogue
(Some specific suggestions made)
 Shared vision key elements – sustainable development; poverty
reduction; MDGs attainment; increased support for capacity
building, financing and technology development and transfer for
adaptation and mitigation in Africa;
 Emission targets for developed countries(2020) – 25 to 40 %
reductions below 1990 levels and by 2050 by between 80 and 95
% below those levels (achieving 450 ppm of carbon dioxide
equivalent in the atmosphere).
 Developing countries will respond by deviating from “businessas-usual” baseline emissions enabled and supported by finance,
technology and capacity –building from developed countries, in a
measurable, reportable and verifiable manner;
African Group of negotiators
A consultative meeting of the African group of
negotiators, held in Algiers in November 2008,
marked a milestone. At the meeting, the
African group of negotiators produced a
document entitled “African Climate Platform
to Copenhagen” (Algiers Platform), which
contains a synthesis of the positions adopted
previously by the African group of negotiators
as agreed upon in Naivasha, Kenya; Abuja;
Dakar; Bonn, Germany; Johannesburg, South
Africa (twelfth session of AMCEN); Accra;
and Algiers
Ministerial Meetings
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A number of ministerial meetings have been held since the
twelfth session of AMCEN and the outcomes of those have
been taken into account during the third special session:
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Bangui declaration on the preparation of negotiations of the new
climate regime post-Kyoto 2012 (Central African Republic, 11
September 2008);
Cotonou declaration on climate change (Benin, 22 October 2008);
Nairobi declaration on climate change, arising out of the meeting
of the ministers of agriculture and environment belonging to the
Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Kenya,
7 November 2008);
Algiers declaration on climate change (Algeria, 20 November
2008).
Third edition of African Ministerial Conference on Financing for
Development*
Applicable AU Summit
Decisions in February 2009
The Summit of the African Union at its
twelfth session adopted, inter alia:
– the Algiers Declaration on Climate Change;
– the recommendations of the twelfth session
of AMCEN including the implementation
of the decision on climate change
(i.e. AMCEN’s work on climate change in Africa)
AMCEN’s Work on climate change
Conceptual framework of African climate change programmes
as per twelfth session of AMCEN
Objective of the Special Session of
AMCEN on climate change
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The objective of the Special Session of AMCEN on climate
change (3rd Special Session of AMCEN) is to provide a forum
for African Ministers of the Environment to deliberate and
attain the following:
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Common African negotiating position on a comprehensive
international Climate Change regime beyond 2012;
Draft concept for a comprehensive framework of African Climate
Change Programmes;
Shared vision for Africa to combat climate change with A view to
achieving sustainable development on the continent;
Common approach to engaging with the international community
in developing solutions to tackle the challenges posed by climate
change; and
Agreement on the modalities for submitting the outcomes of the
Special Session to the African Union at its summit to be held in
July 2009
Outcomes
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The expected outcomes of the third Special Session of
AMCEN include
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Single African voice to advance the continent’s interests in
negotiations for the climate regime beyond 2012;
Common African position in climate change negotiations;
Strong political support from African heads of State and
Government for a shared vision on efforts to combat climate
change in Africa and Africa’s common negotiating position;
Enhanced capacity of the African group of negotiators in selected
thematic areas;
Harmonized climate change programmes on the continent to
ensure coherence and building of synergies;
Effective engagement with the international community in
developing solutions to tackle the challenges posed by climate
change;
Initiation of a consultative and participatory process for the
development of Africa’s policy on climate change.
Schedule of meetings
 Africa Group of negotiators – 23 to 26 May
’09 (Closed Sessions)
 Special Session – Experts Segment -25 to 26
May ’09 (Plenary Sessions – Open)
 Side –Events – 27 & 28* May ’09 (Open)
 Technical briefing of Ministers of
Environment – 28 May ’09 (Open)
 Special Session of AMCEN on climate
change- Ministerial Session – 29 May ’09 (Mix
of Open and Closed Sessions)
 Mini-Exhibition*
BREAK-OUT SESSIONS
(Closed Sessions)
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POLICY RELATED GROUP (Gp. 1)
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Draft Nairobi declaration on African process for
combating climate change;
Draft key political messages
Draft elements of climate change policy for Africa
AFRICAN NEGOTIATORS GROUP (Gp. 2)
closed session)
FRAMEWORK ROGRAMMES GROUP (Gp. 3)
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Draft conceptual framework of African climate change
programmes
Draft decisions
Draft key political decisions
POST SPECIAL SESSION
Submission to the AU Summit in July 2009
Subregional consultative meetings under the
auspices of the RECs before October 2009
AMCEN’s pre- COP meeting for African
High Level Expert Panel on climate Change in
Addis Ababa in October 2009
President’s of AMCEN’s initiative
Copenhagen 2009 (COP15/CMP5)
Post Copenhagen 2009 -13th session of
AMCEN in April/May 2010
Conclusion
 Africa will have a common and
informed voice at Copenhagen 2009 and
a shared vision for combating climate
change.
Thank you for coming
and your kind attention