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.