Climate Change: African Perspectives for a post-2012 Agreement ECA Presentation to the Committee of Experts 27 March 2008 Addis Ababa

2 Outline 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

3 Introduction 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

4 Climate Change and Sustainable Development 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)

5 Climate change and Sustainable Development 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

6 Facing up to the Climate Change Challenge: Global 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

7 Facing up to the Climate Change Challenge: Global 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

8 Global Response to the Climate Change Challenge: Implications for Africa Global Response to the Climate Change Challenge: Implications for Africa  Africa’s preparation to ensure that the concerns of the region are well articulated and reflected in post 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

9 Global Response to the Climate Change Challenge: Implications for Africa Global Response to the Climate Change Challenge: Implications for Africa  Need for an effective regional preparatory process for the negotiations of post-2012 regime, 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

10 Facing up to the Climate Change Challenge in 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

11 Facing up to the Climate Change Challenge in 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

12 Facing up to the Climate Change Challenge in 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

13 Facing up to the Climate Change Challenge in 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)

14 Facing up to the Climate Change Challenge in 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

15 Thank you