COP17 ANOTHER LOST OPPORTUNITY TO DELIVER A DEAL RESPONSIVE TO AFRICAN REALITIES AND ASPIRATIONS

 By VIOLET MENGO

We have ultimately come to the end of the Durban climate change conference with no signals till now of the agreement that African peoples had aspired: second commitment period of Kyoto Protocol and fulfillment of the Bali Action plan.

We are worried that once more, the global community has lost an opportunity to deliver a deal that promises a better future for the poor and health of the planet.

It is however not lost. Anything can happen in the next few hours, and if there is genuine willingness, Durban can deliver a deal responsive to African realities and aspirations. In the last few hours of the climate negotiations we as African civil society want to send an equivocal message to our leaders to reaffirm the African common position that is based on science, justice and the rule of law. On the same note, we urge countries and regional blocs arm-twisting Africa to be “flexible” on their position and lower their ambitions that will ultimately threaten the livelihoods of Africans and our biodiversity to desist from such maneuvres.

The COP17 is the space to conclude talks on the Bali Action Plan with its two- track process in a legally binding form. This is the only credible process. It is essential that the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol with science-based targets of 40% emission reductions by 2017 and 95% by 2050 at 1990 levels by developed countries must be met without loopholes for inaction. We have noticed deliberate efforts to lower these ambitions and maintain the pledges based on the Cancun Agreements that will lead to a 6-degree temperature rise for Africa effectively a death sentence for the continent. The safe level is 1.5 degrees.

Africa also needs new, sustainable, predictable and reliable finance from public sources that is anchored in a democratic and effective architecture. In this regard we consider the Green Climate Fund (GCF) as the big hope to deliver on finance for Africa. The GCF must be able to stand the test of legitimacy as a legal persona and be accountable to the UNFCCC. This is the only way to ensure direct access to finance for the most vulnerable people on our continent. We denounce attempts to turn the GCF into a ‘Greedy Corporate Fund’ that will allow transnational corporations to bypass developing country preferences and community needs. The GCF must be driven by country needs and local level ownership. We reject any maneuvers for the Fund to be housed by any Multilateral Development Bank. We also call for immediate capitalization of the fund agreed at the COP17 and to be based on the scale of need.

We reiterate our support and commitment to the African Common Position and reject any attempts to develop a Durban Mandate which will be an escape from legally binding, ambitious commitments. We support the convergence of the work of the three levels of our African team including the technical negotiators, the ministers, and the heads of state. We call on them to be guided by our clarion call: one African Common Position reject any political compromise in Durban

KEY HIGHLIHTS OF THE TRANS AFRICAN CARVAN OF HOPE

The motivation

The Trans African Climate Caravan of Hope was held as part of pan African mobilization that sought to galvanize the cross country stakeholder voices, with an ultimate aim of communicating the African story while making known the demands of Africa among its inhabitants and the rest of the world to not ony the Africna leaders but also the global ones. The Caravan was a huge mobilization and awareness creation opportunity for African civil society to highlight the challenges climate change poses to African’s efforts to extricate herself from poverty and attainment of Millennium Development Goals. The caravan travelled almost 10,000 Km covering 10 countries (Burindi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zmabia, Zimbabwe, Bostwana and South Africa). In addition Swaziland, Namibia and Mozambique joined as linking nodes. A total of 300 members of caravanites directly took part in the caravan with thousand more attending events at the peoples space and taking part in solidarity actions taht were orgnaised during the week of action in Durban. 42 of these were supported from Zambia with good geneder represenation of both women and youths.

The Highlights

The Caravan delivered peoples message to the various Heads of States in the repsective countries where it passed through and various political leaders also signed the peopels petions. A total of over 4 million signature were sollected and handed over to President Zuma in his capacity as not oinly a Head of state Republi of South Africa but also COP 17  Presidency.

In Zambia the Cravan received the highest political and governemnet solidarity led by the Minsiter of Local Government, Early Child Education and Environal protection who delivered teh solidraity message on behalf o the President of teh Republic of Zambia.  Some of the key persons that addressed the caravanites included; Her Excellency Mary Robinson, former Ireland president met who addressed the continental caravanites at University of Kwa Zulu Natal. Her Excellency was there as she put it, ‘ to listen to the caravanites and help them articulate their voices on the floor of negotiations.’ An actress from China Hai Qing who serves as an Oxfam ambassador and travels the world creating awareness on various development issues received submissions from the Cravanites and addressed them.

Outside the Howard dome at the University of Kwa Zulu Natal, caravnites shared their experiences from across Africa. Hai heard about women in Zambia through Mailesi Banda  a woman farmer who was part of the caravan. She told of how the rural woman suffers because of lack of access of modern facilities. She urged Hai, ‘to send the message to the right people in China that they needed to cut emissions.’ A woman from Lesotho also called Mama Anna had a requested Hai to let the leaders at the COP 17 know, ‘that the group knew they were talking on their behalf but could they ask us directly what we think since we can talk for ourselves.’

Now back to the hall where we are meeting. T-Boy a yough artists from Zambia communicated his message in song from his heart pointing out against the impacts of climate change.

Prof Patrick Bond, Director at Kwa Zulu Natal and also an economist acknowledged the  sacrifice and the caravanites had undertaken to take such a stressful trip on rugged terrain and enmvirain with many vulgars. He called on Cop 17 to bring tge global  temperature sise 1degrees. Failure to do this would render the COP by December 9th a conference of polluters

The once Bolivia Chief Negotiator addressed that Caravanites on  underlining the fact that ‘what was going to be discussed in Durban infact remains debt that shall be increased more than 40%. If this happens Africa will suffer more than 8degrees Celsius increase,’ he passionately said. He added, ‘We want to stop the ecocide. Over 350,000 people die because of causes of Climate Change. Imagine a world that increases with 4degrees Celsius and an Africa that increases with 8degrees Celsius. They are burning and selling Africa.’ He said that if Africa failed to fight in Durban the rest of the continent will be wondering what happened to us.

Joe of Action Aid Internationalalso addressed the Caravanites emphasissing on concerns pertaining to  ‘governments that may not do what they needed to do. 

For future actions

The ns African Caravan of Hope exposed a significant number of ordinary communities to tell their own stories as far as the challeneg of cliamte chnag eis concerned and has put in motion a process of developing a critical mass of ordinary citizens with increase dengangement with the Cop processe.

Despite the many challanges the Zambian caravanites faced during the route and actual enagngement  teh team made significant contribution to cause of one Aftrica one position and one mesage. The African voices were delievred up to Durbana nd byonmd. They also took part in various capscity biulding workshop as part of learning for the future. The caravanites departed for Zambia on the 4th December 2011 having been on a 15 days assigenment in support of climate jsutice.

The  space of civisl soiety in the negotaitions depsite being limited remains an imporatnt spacet of adding value to teh outcome of Cop by taking ito account the issues of teh people.

Durban, Never trust COP

By VIOLET MENGO

The negotiating process for a "legal framework" to make countries cut their carbon emissions after 2020 should "begin immediately", according to the draft text currently being debated by ministers and officials at Durban.

The text, seen by some journalists, follows most of the "EU roadmap" towards a new global agreement, which has been the subject of frantic negotiations in the final hours of the two-week conference, scheduled to end on Friday.

However, there are crucial differences, and it will be difficult for some countries, including India and China, to sign up to the text as it stands.

The text requires countries to "launch a process in order to develop a legal framework applicable to all" developed and developing countries. That means a framework agreement under which countries would commit to fresh targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions, "after 2020" when their current – but non-binding – targets run out.

The phrase "legal framework" falls short of the "legally binding treaty" that the EU wants, but may be vague enough to allow the US – which is wary of a new treaty – to agree.

That negotiating process should "begin immediately" and the negotiations should finish "as early as possible but no later than 2015", which is what the EU wants. The US, however, has strongly objected to setting such a date.

GEF CEO Monique Barbut Hosts Panel Discussion on Africa Land, Water and Forests

By VIOLET MENGO

 

DURBAN, South Africa, December 8, 2011 – Monique Barbut, CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), hosted a discussion of African leaders and international development organizations on the combined efforts to protect and enhance the key natural resources of sub-Saharan Africa.

The participants included representatives of South Africa, Ethiopia, Chad, Congo, Gabon and Senegal, as well as World Bank Vice President Rachel Kyte, African Union Commission Chairman H.E. Jean Ping, and Donald Kaberuka, President of the African Development Bank. All strongly support three initiatives aimed at restoring Central Africa’s key water resource, preventing the desertification of sub-Saharan Africa, and protecting the vast Congo Basin rain forest. The means to that end is climate-resilient development, so that economies can grow and livelihoods improve while the natural resources on which lives depend are protected and enhanced.

The GEF, world’s largest public funder of international environmental projects, is responsible for funding the projects and coordinating the cofinancing of the total $2.36 billion(including $14.8 million from the LDCF and $4.6 million from the SCCF) for the three initiatives together, said these initiatives reflect the importance of merging economic and environmental priorities.

“The nations involved, and their allies in the international community, seek ways to pursue sustainable development in sub-Saharan Africa through careful management and protection of natural resources, including land, water and forests,” GEF CEO Barbut said. “These nations, spanning a vast region from the Sahel to the Congo basin, fully understand what is at stake for their own people and their national economies. The lives and livelihoods of hundreds of millions of Africans depend on sustaining the health of these fragile ecosystems.”

The Great Green Wall project focuses on sustainability and resistance to climate change in the Sahel. Drought, land degradation and water scarcity, perennial problems in this region, are now exacerbated by climate variability. Careful management of scarce natural resources is critical not only to the livelihoods of millions in this region covering 5 percent of the continent, but also to survival. The Great Green Wall Initiative of the Sahel and Sahara integrates management of dryland forests, agroforestry parklands, agricultural landscapes, and pastoral systems.

The Congo Basin, home to the world’s second largest tropical rain forest, covers an area the size of India. These forests contain the largest repository of biodiversity on the continent, extending across five countries – Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon and Central African Republic. The Congo Basin Partnership involves local, national and international entities in implementing a collective vision to safeguard these forests as assets for climate-resilient development. At the same time, preservation of this forest system would represent a major contribution by Africa to protecting the global climate.

Lake Chad is the second largest wetland in Africa and a lifeline for nearly 20 million people in central Africa. The freshwater and rich biodiversity in the lake and surrounding wetlands is shared by Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Niger and Nigeria. But the surface area of the lake has shrunk dramatically, declining from 25,000 square miles 45 years ago to 2,500 square miles today.

Today’s event comes one year after COP 16 in Cancun, where Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia, speaking on behalf of Africa, presented these three initiatives as priorities of the African Union. The situation is urgent: Climate change projections indicate that nearly one-third of the land base in Africa is under threat of desertification, and the continent as a whole is on a path to be hit hard by deforestation and drought, along with the reduction of available fresh water and consequent food insecurity. The wellbeing and livelihood of 70 percent of the continent’s population is at stake.

High Level partnership Launched of Africa Climate Solution at COP17

By VIOLET MENGO

As the United Nations Climate Talks gets to its conclusion this week of the negotiation, a tripartite agreement , on climate change was on Monday 5^th December 2011 launched by three Regions Economic Communities (RECs) in Africa aimed at harmonizing programmes approaches in Eastern and Southern Africa. The partnership is with the European Union, Royal Norwegian Government and the  United Kingdom.

The partnership involves Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Eastern African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Speaking at the launch of the initiative at a high level  side events of the  UN Climate talks, COMESA Secretary General Sindiso Ngwenya said the COMESA-EAC-SADC Climate Change initiative is  “novel that not only occupies a contiguous space on the continent but also have overlapping memberships  which stems from the need to harmonise programme approaches among these three  regions”.

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 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 is of the view that the partnership will help upscale  agriculture programmes and contribute to the growth of local communities in the three regions.

The main aim of the Tripartite Climate Change initiative is to support the African effort at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to ensure that agriculture is accommodated in a manner that is responsive to the interests of Africa and its people.

Africa has always been about additional resources, technology and enhanced capacity to enable the continent to adapt to climate change as well as realise its full adaptation and mitigation potential. Capacity building is required for stakeholders in Africa to articulate, mobilise and sustainably implement adaptation and mitigation interventions that benefit the majority of Africans.

As indicated, the tripartite initiative is supported by Norway, EUC and DfID in a multi –donor financial arrangement. It initial focus is to up-scale climate smart agriculture among the most vulnerable smallholder farmers many of whom are women.

Europe and the EU Commission 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 and green growth and development.

A sum of US $20 million 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 says has 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 lessons on resilience We have lost value of resilient” The royal Norwegian govenemnt was represented at the event by Mr Arvin Godgil, deputy minister for environment who immidetely announced a a Euro 20 million in support of the programme.

Mr Aston said 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.

And SADC Deputy Secretary General Joao Kaholo said 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 said.

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 5^th 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 agroforestry. 

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  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. Donors supporting the Africa Climate Solution are UK,Norway and the EU.

African Anger at European Calls for 'New Mandate'

By VIOLET MENGO

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA - Today - Civil society leaders from across Africa, with support from global movements, launched a letter to climate negotiators that warns that focusing on launching a new mandate at the Durban talks risks backtracking on promises to the poor and the planet.

The letter calls on developed countries to urgently scale up the ambition of their emission reduction targets and reminds negotiators that current emission reduction pledges will lead us to a world that is 5°C warmer. For Africa, this means 7 or 8°C of warming and unimaginable human suffering.

Michele Maynard from the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) said:

"Following what some delegates say you would think that the purpose of these negotiations was a 'new roadmap' - that's just not true. Of central and agreed importance is the need to negotiate deep emission cuts as a part of a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. Coming up with new 'mandates' and 'roadmaps' is a distraction from that very necessary action. It's also a breach of faith, in 2007 all countries agreed to do this."

"A climate agreement that does what is necessary to protect Africa is like cooking a good recipe. It needs just enough emission cuts and a dollop of finance and technology for responding to climate impacts. We've got the recipe from the Bali Action Plan, we've got all the ingredients, even started cutting up some of the vegetables, but now some people want to cook something else. That's a recipe for doing-nothing and delay."

"This letter is a clarion call to negotiators - you either see the science and recognize its urgency; or you don't. You either hear what the world's poorest people are saying and care; or you don't. Any outcome which locks in the current proposed emission cuts or puts off talking about how to bring those cuts into line with the science is utterly unacceptable."

The letter, signed by movements representing hundreds of organisations across Africa and the world, includes the follow quotations:

"Agreeing to a new mandate that replaces the Kyoto Protocol would mean action is effectively delayed for five to ten years. A new treaty will take several years to negotiate with several more years needed for ratification. Further, there is no assurance that countries that have repudiated the existing legal architecture, like the United States, will agree to or ratify a new agreement, nor that such agreement will not be a weak and ineffective "pledge and review" system."

"While many developed countries seek to end the Kyoto Protocol, they simultaneously attempt to retain and expand their favored elements of the Kyoto Protocol, like the CDM, in a new agreement and shift their responsibilities onto developing countries. Without legally binding emission reductions under the Kyoto Protocol, developed countries must not be allowed to have access to the carbon markets."

African Group sets out key demands as talks enter final stages

By VIOLET MENGO

COP17, Durban, South Africa - The African Group of negotiators have set out their five key demands as UN climate talks in Durban move into the high level stage of negotiations today.

The Group, which represents 54 African countries and is chaired by Mr. Tosi Mpanu Mpanu of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, are demanding:

• A multilateral agreement that respects the principles and provisions of the Convention, and matches the ambition and substance set out in the Bali Action Plan
• A second and subsequent commitment periods under the Kyoto Protocol with ambitious, science-based mitigation targets for developed country Kyoto Parties and provisional application to avoid a gap in the legally binding regime; and comparable efforts by developed country non-Kyoto Parties (United States) under the Convention, including ambitious, legally binding, economy-wide emission reduction commitments;
• Agreement on long-term sources and scale of finance commencing in 2013, including a process for determining the levels of finance necessary for implementation of the Convention in a predictable and identifiable manner;
• Full operationalization of the outcomes and institutions agreed in Cancun including the Green Climate Fund
• Agreement on a work programme on adaptation to establish an international mechanism on loss and damage from climate change for developing countries.

Mr Tosi Mpanu Mpanu said:

"As a world leader on climate change, a major player in the UN climate change negotiations, and hosts of an "African COP" Africa must continue to play an important and growing role in the climate negotiations.  

"The Durban Package must respond to Africa's needs and potential. We are talking to the developed countries about how they meet their historical responsibilities to deliver a fair and just climate deal for the world."

 ENDS

G77 and China: Saving Tomorrow Today

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA - Yesterday -  The opening of the Joint High Level Segment of the COP17/CMP7 in Durban was inaugurated by the President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, as well as the President of the Conference and Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Africa, Ms. Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and the Executive Secretary of UNFCCC, Ms. Christiana Figueres.

President Zuma highlighted that Durban is proving to be "a decisive moment" in the UNFCCC process, and called all parties to show flexibility in defense of the system. "We need to show the world that parties are ready to solve the problems in a practical manner and are willing to forgo national interest for the interest of humanity, no matter how difficult this may be".

The Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship of Argentina presented a statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, emphasizing the urgent need to address climate change, which for countries within the G77 and China is a matter of survival.

He added: "Developing countries are now more than ever experiencing the very real impacts of climate change, which are undermining our development prospects and aggravating preexisting vulnerabilities. This has been confirmed a few days ago by the Special Report (SREX) that was adopted by IPCC member governments, highlighting that fatality rates and economic losses expressed as a proportion of GDP are higher in developing countries."

The Vice Minister of Argentina made a strong appeal to all parties, "we believe this process has to deliver". He reiterated that the continuation of the Kyoto Protocol is the cornerstone of credible efforts in addressing climate change, i.e. a second commitment period that is fully legally binding and ratified. He added that further political commitment was needed to raise the level of ambition of developed countries pledges, in line with what is required by science, equity and historical responsibilities.

He reminded participants in the very crowded Baobab Plenary room that developing countries are already undertaking bold action in mitigation and adaptation activities, including with our own resources, in a scenario where the provisions of the Convention regarding the support of finance, technology transfer and capacity building by developed countries parties are far from being met. We are willing to do more, but the available international cooperation for national mitigation and adaptation actions clearly needs to be scaled up.

"We believe that resolve and progress in this front could be the key to a leap forward in mitigation actions by developing countries", added Vice Minister D'Alotto. Also, "setting in motion the Green Climate Fund created in Cancun must include its initial capitalization, from public financial resources as soon as possible, to appease the fears of an "empty shell" structure."

The Group of 77 and China expressed the hope and determination to make all needed efforts to achieve an outcome that is comprehensive and balanced, enabling the full, effective and sustained implementation of the Convention through  long-term cooperative action now, up to and beyond 2012, pursuant to the  results  of  the  thirteenth  and  sixteenth  sessions  of  the Conference  of  the  Parties,  addressing both  implementation tasks and issues that are still to be concluded as per the agreed agenda.  Such an outcome, on the basis of equity and taking into account the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, demands a decision on establishing the commitments of the second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol here in Durban.

"I don't think you want to disappoint the citizens of the globe", said President Zuma. We all agree that the Earth is in danger. The Group of 77 and China calls on all Parties to engage meaningfully and to stop attempts to water down the existing process under the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol and to resolutely move forward for their full implementation and strengthening.

As stated by Argentina on behalf of the Group of 77 and China at the session: "We are fully committed with you in "SAVING TOMORROW, TODAY."

African Agriculture Already Struggling From Climate Change

By VIOLET MENGO
 (Durban, South Africa) New research reveals Africa will face significantly lower crop yields in the next 10 years as a result of increasing temperatures, threatening the food security of millions.

The new report on climate change and African agriculture, published by the African Climate Policy Centre (ACPC), the technical arm of the Climate for Development in Africa (ClimDev Africa) programme, based at the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), examined the extent of climate change impacts in Africa and their effects on food security, and found that even small temperature increases were likely to affect yields.

The report is published against the backdrop of the UN climate talks in Durban, South Africa, where future action to limit temperature increases is being discussed.

"This report provides an important context for the talks in Durban," Dr Seleshi Bekele, Senior Water and Climate Specialist at the ACPC said. "Agriculture is the lifeline and mainstay of livelihoods for three out of four Africans, and therefore adaptation to climate change in this critical sector is not an option but a necessity".

The report's author, Prof Doreen Stabinsky said "Global temperature rise must be limited urgently to avoid serious impacts on African agricultural production. International offset programmes, which provide a substitute for action in developed countries, are actually further threatening food security in Africa." She reiterated further that "African farmers and pastoralists are already seeing changes in the timing of rains, in the severity of rains, in temperatures, and in the progressive drying of their soils."

Recent research summarized in the report concluded that from 1980-2008, due to rising global temperatures, global maize and wheat yields have already decreased by 3.8% and 5.5% respectively.

"All of these impacts are being felt before we even see a temperature rise of 1°C," Stabinsky warned.

"African countries are highly vulnerable to climate change, and the agriculture sector is a good indicator of vulnerability given its importance to livelihoods and the economy. The impact that current and historic GHG emission is having on agriculture in Africa needs to be better understood in order for African negotiators to negotiate effectively, armed with the kind of information outlined in this report" said Seyni Nafo. Spokesperson of the African Group.

At the current rate of temperature increase, global average temperatures will have increased 1.5°C by 2050. Studies quoted in the report estimate average production losses by 2050 for African maize at 22%, sorghum 17%, millet 17%, groundnut 18%, and cassava 8%. "Warming as low as 1.5˚C threatens food production in Africa significantly." added Stabinsky.

The research also shows that warming over 1.5°C will mean severe crop loss, displacement of pastoralists and agricultural production, and dangerous impacts on food security for millions of people.

African governments should demand a work programme on agriculture under the Adaptation Framework, as recommended by the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment, both to ensure food security and address slow onset temperature rise and the yield declines that will follow, Stabinsky added.

The report covers many of the current and projected climate impacts in Africa, including:

• Impacts of extreme temperatures and slow onset temperature rise on crop yields;
• Global warming contributions to the Sahel and Horn of Africa droughts;
• Impacts on tea and cocoa production in Africa from changing climates; and
• Risk of continued emissions from Annex I countries for African agriculture.

Implications of Canada’s potential withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol before the end of the

All reasonable efforts have been made in providing the following information. However due to the

circumstances and the timeframes involved, these materials have been prepared for informational

purposes only and are not legal advice. Transmission of the information is not intended to create, and

receipt does not constitute, a lawyer-client relationship. Those consulting this Paper may wish to obtain

their own legal advice. To the extent permitted by law any liability (including without limitation for

negligence or for any damages of any kind) for the legal analysis is excluded.

This document is an output from a project funded by the UK Department for International Development

(DFID) for the benefit of developing countries. However, the views expressed and information contained in

it are not necessarily those of or endorsed by DFID, which can accept no responsibility for such views or

information or for any reliance placed on them.

Introduction:

1. This briefing paper analyses the process and legality of Canada’s alleged pending withdrawal from

the Kyoto Protocol (“

December 2012. After summarising the process which Canada would have to follow to withdraw

from the KP, this briefing paper examines the limited recourse available to international bodies

and the parties to the KP to preserve Canada’s status as a party, the legal implications of Canada’s

withdrawal, as well as the possibility of assessing Canada’s compliance with its emission reduction

targets on a

responsibility in relation to their withdrawal from the KP.

KP” or the “Protocol”) prior to the end of the first commitment period on 31pro-rata basis. This paper has not addressed the issue of Canada’s international

Right of Withdrawal under the Kyoto Protocol:

2. Canada is a party to both the KP and the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (“

Article 54 of the VCLT provides that a party to a treaty may withdraw from a treaty in conformity

with the provisions of that treaty. Pursuant to Article 27 of the KP, a party may withdraw from the

Protocol by giving written notification to the UN Depositary. Any such withdrawal will take effect

one year from the date of receipt by the Depositary of the withdrawal notification or such later

date as specified in the notification (the “

Canada may withdraw from the Protocol at any time, such withdrawal taking effect no less than

one year after the date of receipt by the Depositary of the notification of withdrawal.

3. Should Canada effect its rights under Article 27 and withdraw from the KP, it is unlikely that either

of the Conference of the Parties (“

Change (“

(“

recourse against Canada. There also does not appear to be any legal basis on which the COP, CMP,

UN Depositary or any individual party to the KP may delay or prohibit Canada’s withdrawal from

the KP if Canada were to decide to withdraw from the KP pursuant to Article 27.

VCLT”).Cooling Period”). Consequently, as a party to the KP,COP”) to the United Nations Framework Convention on ClimateUNFCCC”) or the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the PartiesCMP”), as multilateral bodies, nor any of the individual parties to the KP, would have any legal

Legal Implications of Canada’s Withdrawal:

4. The first legal implication of Canada’s potential withdrawal from the KP prior to the end of the

first commitment period is that it would render any enforcement or penalty provisions under the

KP inapplicable to Canada. During the one year Cooling Period Canada would still be bound to

strive towards its emissions reduction target for the first commitment period. However, notifying

Page 2 of 2

the UN Depositary prior to 31 December 2011 of its intention to withdraw from the KP would

mean that the enforcement branch of the KP’s compliance committee would have no power

under decision 27/CMP.1 to assess Canada's compliance with its annual assigned amount of

greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions. This stems from the fact that the enforcement branch can

only assess the compliance of a party to the KP at the end of the first commitment period. If

Canada is not a party to the KP at the end of the first commitment period, the enforcement

branch would have no jurisdiction to assess Canada’s compliance, save perhaps a declaration of

non-compliance .

5. Secondly, having withdrawn from the KP, Canada would not be subject to any emission reduction

targets in the second commitment period, assuming one is agreed in Durban.

6. Finally, a practical consequence of Canada’s withdrawal from the KP prior to the end of the first

commitment period is that Canada would avoid having to submit its final national inventory

report, due by 15 April 2014, for annual GHG emissions data for the period ending on 31

December 2012. Since by that point Canada would no longer be a party to the KP, it would not

need to purchase carbon credits during the “true-up period” in order to comply with its first

commitment period target (whether pro-rated or not).

Possibility of assessing Canada’s compliance with its emission reduction targets on a

pro-rata basis

7. Should Canada choose to withdraw from the KP, there does not appear to be any basis under the

Protocol or any related rules that would allow its emission reduction targets for the first

commitment period to be assessed on a

1 and 7, states that the reduction targets are calculated on the commitment period as a whole. By

virtue of withdrawing from the KP

exempt itself from having to meet its emission reduction commitments under the KP.

8. While the option of attempting to amend the KP to allow for pro-rated emission reduction

calculations would be open to the parties, such a process could not ultimately prevent Canada’s

withdrawal from the KP, should it choose to do so as described above. An amendment to the KP

may only be adopted at a CMP session, with notice of the proposed amendment provided to all

parties to the KP at least six months prior to such session. While this notice period is shorter than

the Cooling Period required by parties who have given notice of their intention to withdraw from

the KP, by the time the relevant amendment entered into force, the withdrawing party would no

longer be a party to the KP.

9. More fundamentally, however, pursuant to Article 20(4), amendments to the KP are only binding

on those who accept them and it is inconceivable that Canada would choose to adopt and ratify

an amendment which would allow for their first commitment period obligations to be pro-rated in

such a way that it could make Canada internationally responsible for breach of the KP.pro-rata basis. Article 3 of the KP, specifically paragraphsduring the first commitment period, Canada would essentially

GEF CEO Monique Barbut Hosts Panel Discussion on Africa Land, Water and Forests

By VIOLET MENGO

DURBAN, South Africa, December 8, 2011 – Monique Barbut, CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), hosted a discussion of African leaders and international development organizations on the combined efforts to protect and enhance the key natural resources of sub-Saharan Africa.

The participants included representatives of South Africa, Ethiopia, Chad, Congo, Gabon and Senegal, as well as World Bank Vice President Rachel Kyte, African Union Commission Chairman H.E. Jean Ping, and Donald Kaberuka, President of the African Development Bank. All strongly support three initiatives aimed at restoring Central Africa’s key water resource, preventing the desertification of sub-Saharan Africa, and protecting the vast Congo Basin rain forest. The means to that end is climate-resilient development, so that economies can grow and livelihoods improve while the natural resources on which lives depend are protected and enhanced.

The GEF, world’s largest public funder of international environmental projects, is responsible for funding the projects and coordinating the cofinancing of the total $2.36 billion(including $14.8 million from the LDCF and $4.6 million from the SCCF) for the three initiatives together, said these initiatives reflect the importance of merging economic and environmental priorities.

“The nations involved, and their allies in the international community, seek ways to pursue sustainable development in sub-Saharan Africa through careful management and protection of natural resources, including land, water and forests,” GEF CEO Barbut said. “These nations, spanning a vast region from the Sahel to the Congo basin, fully understand what is at stake for their own people and their national economies. The lives and livelihoods of hundreds of millions of Africans depend on sustaining the health of these fragile ecosystems.”

The Great Green Wall project focuses on sustainability and resistance to climate change in the Sahel. Drought, land degradation and water scarcity, perennial problems in this region, are now exacerbated by climate variability. Careful management of scarce natural resources is critical not only to the livelihoods of millions in this region covering 5 percent of the continent, but also to survival. The Great Green Wall Initiative of the Sahel and Sahara integrates management of dryland forests, agroforestry parklands, agricultural landscapes, and pastoral systems.

The Congo Basin, home to the world’s second largest tropical rain forest, covers an area the size of India. These forests contain the largest repository of biodiversity on the continent, extending across five countries – Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon and Central African Republic. The Congo Basin Partnership involves local, national and international entities in implementing a collective vision to safeguard these forests as assets for climate-resilient development. At the same time, preservation of this forest system would represent a major contribution by Africa to protecting the global climate.

Lake Chad is the second largest wetland in Africa and a lifeline for nearly 20 million people in central Africa. The freshwater and rich biodiversity in the lake and surrounding wetlands is shared by Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Niger and Nigeria. But the surface area of the lake has shrunk dramatically, declining from 25,000 square miles 45 years ago to 2,500 square miles today.

Today’s event comes one year after COP 16 in Cancun, where Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia, speaking on behalf of Africa, presented these three initiatives as priorities of the African Union. The situation is urgent: Climate change projections indicate that nearly one-third of the land base in Africa is under threat of desertification, and the continent as a whole is on a path to be hit hard by deforestation and drought, along with the reduction of available fresh water and consequent food insecurity. The wellbeing and livelihood of 70 percent of the continent’s population is at stake.

COP17 final day

By VIOLET MENGO

 

120 countries, including Brazil, Japan, Canada and many African nations, have lined up behind the EU's proposal for a roadmap towards a new global agreement. The plan would involve the major emitters from both the developing and developed world to sign a deal in 2015 which would come into effect in 2020.

There was some confusion on Thursday when the US lead negotiator Todd Stern appeared to endorse the EU's position (he used the term "roadmap" approvingly twice in a press conference). He later rowed back from that though and seems to favour a more flexible time-table.

Meanwhile, India has been strongly opposed to any plan that would mean it and other large developing economies should take on legally-binding cuts to carbon emissions. China's position is ambiguous. It has made some warm noises about the EU plan but appears also to be some way from accepting legally binding cuts.

If there is to be a deal, the talks may well spill over into Saturday – and there are even rumours that delegates are preparing for the talking to continue into Sunday.