‘Call of Marrakech,’ is a call to action

Violet Mengo

Marrakech, Morocco

A WEEK away to the close of climate change convention taking place in Marrakech, COP 22 president Salaheddine Mezouar and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) executive secretary Patricia Espinosa held a joint press conference to mark the halfway point of the twenty second session of the climate change summit.

Mr Mezouar took time explaining progress made in the negotiations ahead of the High Level Segment scheduled to take place on November 15, 2016, with an opening ceremony in the presence of his Majesty (HM) Mohammed VI of Morocco, UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon, scores of Heads of States and Government and participating delegations.

November 15 will also mark the first session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA1).

The Paris Agreement is an agreement within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) dealing with greenhouse gases emissions mitigation, adaptation and finance starting in the year 2020.

It was signed on the 12 of December 2015 during the Conference of Parties the twenty first session held in Paris.

This was after the conditions that were set during the COP21 in terms of its entry were met on October 5th, 2016.

The two conditions that triggered the entry into force of the Paris agreement include the ratification of the agreement by 55 parties to the convention on climate change.

The second one was that those particular 55 countries should have the total emission of greenhouse gases amounting to 55 percent of the global emissions. 

The two conditions were fulfilled on October 5th 2016. As of today, 109 parties to the convention have ratified representing 76.53 percent of the global total emission of greenhouse gases.

From October 5th when the target was met, the Paris Agreement was scheduled to enter into force 30 days after the target was reached on November 4^th, 2016.

The opening day of the High-Level Segment on Tuesday will include the reading of the “Call of Marrakech”, which is a call to action that is a result of a highly inclusive consultative process among Parties. 

The COP president told journalists that so far 105 parties have now deposited their instruments of ratification of the Paris Agreement constituting an important political signal in the fight against climate change. 

Mr Mezouar encouraged remaining parties to ensure their countries to ratify the Paris Agreement in their respective countries to keep the important climate action momentum.

At the halfway point of COP22, slated to wrap up on November 18, the COP22 President spoke with a positive tone, saying, “negotiations are going will and are exemplified by a highly inclusive and consultative process among all Parties.”

He also used the time to underscore positive actions taken by civil society in the lead up to and during COP22.

He particularly pointed to the powerful commitment and engagement of the youth population, who participated in the Conference of Youth (COY12) in Marrakech from November 4 to 6, and who have been highly active in both the Blue and Green Zones during the first week of the COP.

The COP22 President also pointed to the fact that progress is being made on the Paris Agreement rulebook and that important announcements would be made next week regarding capacity building for developing countries.

He also underscored the importance of making headway during the UN Climate Conference on the question of climate finance especially as it relates to matching bankable projects with climate funds and mobilising private sector finance to leverage public money.

Zambia is actively participating in the negotiations with a boost that came from Parliament on the ratification of the Paris Agreement.

This entails is that all the provisions and obligations for parties as contained in the Paris Agreement are now in force and parties have already started undertaking their obligations.

For instance, Zambia through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) gave herself a target of reducing emissions through the implementation of three strategic programmes; sustainable forestry management, sustainable agriculture and renewable energy and efficiency. The country aims to reduce emissions at an average of 47 percent.

Following several questions from journalists on the U.S. Presidential election results, the COP22 President answered, “the American people are very engaged and committed to the fight against climate change.”

In her remarks, UNFCCC Patricia Espinosa thanked Salaheddine Mezouar for his tremendous leadership as COP22 President.  She also enthusiastically announced that, “more than 90 countries have moved from Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) to formal Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). This transition has happened in record time which confirms the world’s commitment to addressing climate change.”

For the first time, the Head of State President Edgar Lungu is on Tuesday expected for the high level segment. Ministers coming along include Harry Kalaba Foreign Affairs, Minister of Tourism and Arts Jean Kapata, Minister of Energy Brian Mabumba. Minister of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection Lloyd Kaziya has been with the negotiation team for three days now. Members of Parliament for Muchinga Howard Kunda and BangweuluAnthony Kasandwe are also part of the team of negotiators.

To what extent is Africa benefiting from an African COP

November 12, 2016

 

Violet Mengo

Marrakech, Morocco

COP22 president left with UNFCCC executive secretary

THEY came- delegates from across the world to the red city of Marrakech with one goal- strengthening global response to the threat of climate change.

Marrakech, which for two weeks will the centre of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is a city in southern Morocco, stretches back nearly a thousand years and the country is named after it.

The city was founded in 1070 by the Almoravids as the capital of their empire, Marrakech went on to serve as the imperial Almohad Caliphate from 1147.

And for the second time the country is host of the climate conference which has been dubbed ‘COP of action’ and as has been the case Africa is looking forward to getting the best of this gathering.

Despite not having the precise scientific evidence of climate change, over 97 percent of the scientists surveyed agreed that global temperatures had increased during the 100 years.

The increase however is mostly human induced and needs urgent response as its effect especially on poor people will be great.

At the Marrakech climate conference which started November 7^th 2016, world leaders, academia and climate experts are here to push the climate change agenda forward.

For Africa crucial on the agenda include enhancing ambition, promoting implementation and providing support.

Marrakech also marks a turning point because the landmark Paris Climate Change Agreement entered into force on November 4^th after the target set was met.

In strengthening action on mitigation and adaptation by all Parties before 2020, governments will have to make concerted efforts to support domestic action that will give effect to nationally determined contributions, combined with collaborative initiatives as part of an intensified Global Climate Action with non-state actors.

For Africa, the issue of money is cardinal and negotiators from various countries have been working hard to put in place measures for strengthening appropriate financial flows, a new technology framework and an enhanced capacity building framework as envisioned in the Paris Agreement with a view to supporting action by developing countries and the most vulnerable countries, in line with their own national objectives.

Ségolène Royal, French Environment Minister in her opening remarks highlighted that this year is the African COP and the COP of action, she pointed out that we must focus on renewable energy, gender and climate justice.

Royal said, “African States are the most mobilised and committed of all, they are re-inventing the world of tomorrow. Our generation should not reproduce mistakes of the previous fossil based economies.”

Also in the opening session, Morocco’s Foreign Minister and the new president of COP22 Salaheddine Mezouar said, “Climate change is not the only thing at stake now, but it is also the question of civilisation and economic development. We must promote sustainable development and the transformation all of our economies.”

With the Paris Agreement entering into force just days ago, the international community is showing their commitment to rapidly address climate change and keep global temperature rise to 2°C or less. The energy sector accounts for two-thirds of global emissions, and so a transition to a clean energy future with renewable energy at the forefront is key.

Executive Secretary United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Patricia Espinosa, said, “Marrakech is our moment to take forward climate action at the international and national levels as a central pillar of the successful realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is our opportunity to take the next steps towards an inclusive, sustainable path for every man, woman and child.”

“Marrakech’s COP22 is the occasion to reinforce climate action of governments’ and civic society,” said Patricia Espinosa, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Calling for that “same determination” in implementing both the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said, “We remain in a race against time.” World Bank President Jim Yong Kim called 4 November 2016 “a defining moment in human history,” adding that, for the first time, “a global agreement to turn down the heat on our planet enters into force.”

A report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change revealed that within 40 years Africa might become the first victim of global warming, with half of the farmland in the Maghreb potentially being lost to drought and reduced soil fertility.

Internship experiences with World Federation of Science Journalism (WFSJ)

First African Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation

April 25, 2012

By Violet Mengo,

Zambia

Violet, 2012

People speak highly about their internship but it was never the case with me because I have never gone through one. The opportunity only fell through recently under the peer-to-peer mentoring programme. The destination was Kenya, at the Hotel, SIX EIGHTY (680) to cover the first African forum on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) on youth empowerment, Human Capital Development and Inclusive Growth.

Later that night, we had a meeting with the mentor on how we would proceed for the week. It was a busy programme ahead, which I digested with passion. Our mentor emphasized the use of social media, twitter and Facebook to be precise. In the morning, we were set for the meeting which was attended by a cross section of delegates, mostly ministers of S, T&I from the African Continent.

For the first time, I used the social media tools; twitter, face book on the proceedings of the conference. I was excited and these helped me to concentrate unlike previous meetings where during the proceedings I would start dozing.

Violet and Vivian

From the conference, it was amazing to see the zeal of African leaders to move the science, technology and innovation in the African agenda. The three days attendance at the conference was busy, motivating and also interactive. Busy in the sense that in I was required to present at least an article to my mentor who kept advising on how to do good stories and interview from sources.

Motivating because of the involvement of people at the conference and how they were willing and dedicated to their calls for science and development in Africa. Interactive because it helped broaden my network and meet new people and make friends.

Esther Nakkazi with mentees, 2012, Kenya

After the conference, we also had the opportunity to visit Science Development Network offices where the African Editor took us through how the online publication was managed.

He said told us the traits of a good journalist like some of the qualities found on the online course I did in the first phase of the SJCOOP programme. As always, I was motivated but still complained that each time I pitch an idea to scidev.net, it is short down but will try again and again.

Save the best for last; the trip to ICRAF was amazing and full of intelligent people who know their subject well. In all these activities the mentor kept encouraging us to have an eye for news.

a night to remeber in Nairobi, Kenya, 2012

I wanted the programme to continue and I asked Esther if she could ask WFSJ to extend the internship for another week. The programme WSFJ in general has been a transformation phase in my career development. It has also helped me increase my network and source base

Violet, 2012

 First Africa Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation held in Nairobi, Kenya 1st to 3rd April 2012 covered by World Federation of Science Journalists from Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia and Mozambique