Special Session of the African Special Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Ministerial Conference on the

EnvironmentEnvironment on climate on climate changechange

Peter Acquah (PhD)Peter Acquah (PhD)AMCEN SecretaryAMCEN Secretary

Regional Office for AfricaRegional Office for AfricaUNEPUNEP

Sponsors - Special Session of Sponsors - Special Session of AMCEN on climate changeAMCEN on climate change

Direct support provided by the Direct support provided by the following for the Special following for the Special Session of AMCEN is gratefully Session of AMCEN is gratefully acknowledgedacknowledgedUNEPUNEPDenmark Denmark Kenya Kenya UNECAUNECANorwayNorwayCOMESACOMESA

Sponsors – AMCEN’s work on Sponsors – AMCEN’s work on climate changeclimate change

Support provided by the Support provided by the following is gratefully following is gratefully acknowledgedacknowledged DenmarkDenmark UNEPUNEP WWFWWF AfDBAfDB OSSOSS

Further support from partners Further support from partners will be most welcomewill be most welcome

Special Session of AMCEN on climate Special Session of AMCEN on climate changechange

Welcome to the special session of AMCEN Welcome to the special session of AMCEN on climate change – the third Special on climate change – the third Special Session of AMCEN in the 24yr. History of Session of AMCEN in the 24yr. History of AMCEN.AMCEN.

Pre-session eventsPre-session events Meeting of the African high Level Expert Meeting of the African high Level Expert

Panel on Climate Change serving as the Panel on Climate Change serving as the preparatory meeting for the Special preparatory meeting for the Special Session of AMCEN on climate change.Session of AMCEN on climate change.

AMCEN is a Specialized Technical AMCEN is a Specialized Technical Committee of the African Union.Committee of the African Union.

AMCEN/SS/III/INF/1 – AMCEN/SS/III/INF/1 – Information NoteInformation Note ….….

NEPAD Environment Initiative Action NEPAD Environment Initiative Action Plan Plan

(2003)(2003)Combating land degradation, drought Combating land degradation, drought

and desertification; and desertification; Conserving Africa’s wetlands; Conserving Africa’s wetlands; Prevention, control, and management Prevention, control, and management

of invasive alien species; of invasive alien species; Conservation and sustainable use of Conservation and sustainable use of

marine, coastal and freshwater marine, coastal and freshwater resources; resources;

Combating Climate Change in Africa;Combating Climate Change in Africa;Transboundary conservation or Transboundary conservation or

management of natural resources.management of natural resources.

Historical overview Historical overview

Establishment of an AWG Establishment of an AWG to initiate a to initiate a process to consider further commitments for process to consider further commitments for Parties included in Annex I for the period Parties included in Annex I for the period beyond 2012 in 2005; beyond 2012 in 2005;

Subregional environmental action plans of Subregional environmental action plans of the environment initiative of NEPAD the environment initiative of NEPAD preparation and increased climate change preparation and increased climate change concerns;concerns;

First First African position paperAfrican position paper for African for African Group of negotiators in 2006 (COP 12/CMP2);Group of negotiators in 2006 (COP 12/CMP2);

Heightening of AMCEN’s concerns regarding Heightening of AMCEN’s concerns regarding climate change in 2007climate change in 2007

Twelfth Session of AMCENTwelfth Session of AMCEN(June 2008)(June 2008)

Ministerial Policy Dialogue – President of AMCEN Ministerial Policy Dialogue – President of AMCEN Summary included specific suggestions include Summary included specific suggestions include elements for the process of developing a common elements for the process of developing a common position.position.

Decision 2 on climate change:Decision 2 on climate change: Africa’s preparations for developing a common Africa’s preparations for developing a common

negotiating position on a comprehensive international negotiating position on a comprehensive international climate change regime beyond 2012;climate change regime beyond 2012;

Comprehensive framework of African climate change Comprehensive framework of African climate change programmes.programmes.

The first phase of the Secretariat’s work::The first phase of the Secretariat’s work:: trust building, trust building, resource mobilization; resource mobilization; consensus building; and consensus building; and laying the foundation for the various actors in Africa to work in laying the foundation for the various actors in Africa to work in

concertconcert

Ministerial Policy DialogueMinisterial Policy Dialogue

(Some specific suggestions made(Some specific suggestions made)) Shared vision key elements – sustainable Shared vision key elements – sustainable

development; poverty reduction; MDGs development; poverty reduction; MDGs attainment; increased support for capacity attainment; increased support for capacity building, financing and technology development building, financing and technology development and transfer for adaptation and mitigation in and transfer for adaptation and mitigation in Africa;Africa;

Emission targets for developed countries(2020) – Emission targets for developed countries(2020) – 25 to 40 % reductions below 1990 levels and by 25 to 40 % reductions below 1990 levels and by 2050 by between 80 and 95 % below those levels 2050 by between 80 and 95 % below those levels (achieving 450 ppm of carbon dioxide equivalent in (achieving 450 ppm of carbon dioxide equivalent in the atmosphere). the atmosphere).

Developing countries will respond by deviating Developing countries will respond by deviating from “business-as-usual” baseline emissions from “business-as-usual” baseline emissions enabled and supported by finance, technology and enabled and supported by finance, technology and capacity –building from developed countries, in a capacity –building from developed countries, in a measurable, reportable and verifiable manner; measurable, reportable and verifiable manner;

African Group of negotiatorsAfrican Group of negotiators

A consultative meeting of the African A consultative meeting of the African group of negotiators, held in Algiers in group of negotiators, held in Algiers in November 2008, marked a milestone. November 2008, marked a milestone. At the meeting, the African group of At the meeting, the African group of negotiators produced a document negotiators produced a document entitled “African Climate Platform to entitled “African Climate Platform to Copenhagen” (Algiers Platform), which Copenhagen” (Algiers Platform), which contains a synthesis of the positions contains a synthesis of the positions adopted previously by the African adopted previously by the African group of negotiators as agreed upon in group of negotiators as agreed upon in Naivasha, Kenya; Abuja; Dakar; Bonn, Naivasha, Kenya; Abuja; Dakar; Bonn, Germany; Johannesburg, South Africa Germany; Johannesburg, South Africa (twelfth session of AMCEN); Accra; (twelfth session of AMCEN); Accra; and Algiersand Algiers

Ministerial MeetingsMinisterial Meetings

A number of ministerial meetings have been A number of ministerial meetings have been held since the twelfth session of AMCEN and held since the twelfth session of AMCEN and the outcomes of those have been taken into the outcomes of those have been taken into account during the third special session:account during the third special session:

Bangui declaration on the preparation of Bangui declaration on the preparation of negotiations of the new climate regime post-Kyoto negotiations of the new climate regime post-Kyoto 2012 (Central African Republic, 11 September 2012 (Central African Republic, 11 September 2008);2008);

Cotonou declaration on climate change (Benin, 22 Cotonou declaration on climate change (Benin, 22 October 2008);October 2008);

Nairobi declaration on climate change, arising Nairobi declaration on climate change, arising out of the meeting of the ministers of agriculture out of the meeting of the ministers of agriculture and environment belonging to the Common and environment belonging to the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Kenya, Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Kenya, 7 November 2008); 7 November 2008);

Algiers declaration on climate change (Algeria, 20 Algiers declaration on climate change (Algeria, 20 November 2008).November 2008).

Third edition of African Ministerial Conference on Third edition of African Ministerial Conference on Financing for Development*Financing for Development*

Applicable AU Summit Applicable AU Summit Decisions in February 2009Decisions in February 2009

The Summit of the African Union The Summit of the African Union at its twelfth session adopted, at its twelfth session adopted, inter alia:inter alia:– the Algiers Declaration on Climate the Algiers Declaration on Climate

Change; Change; – the recommendations of the the recommendations of the

twelfth session of AMCEN twelfth session of AMCEN including the implementation of the including the implementation of the decision on climate changedecision on climate change (i.e. AMCEN’s work on climate change in Africa)(i.e. AMCEN’s work on climate change in Africa)

AMCEN’s Work on climate changeAMCEN’s Work on climate change

Conceptual framework of African climate change Conceptual framework of African climate change programmesprogrammes

as per twelfth session of AMCENas per twelfth session of AMCEN

Objective of the Special Session of Objective of the Special Session of AMCEN on climate changeAMCEN on climate change

The The objectiveobjective of the Special Session of AMCEN of the Special Session of AMCEN on climate change (3rd Special Session of on climate change (3rd Special Session of AMCEN) is to provide a forum for African AMCEN) is to provide a forum for African Ministers of the Environment to deliberate and Ministers of the Environment to deliberate and attain the following:attain the following:

Common African negotiating position on a Common African negotiating position on a comprehensive international Climate Change regime comprehensive international Climate Change regime beyond 2012;beyond 2012;

Draft concept for a comprehensive framework of Draft concept for a comprehensive framework of African Climate Change Programmes;African Climate Change Programmes;

Shared vision for Africa to combat climate change Shared vision for Africa to combat climate change with A view to achieving sustainable development on with A view to achieving sustainable development on the continent;the continent;

Common approach to engaging with the Common approach to engaging with the international community in developing solutions to international community in developing solutions to tackle the challenges posed by climate change; and tackle the challenges posed by climate change; and

Agreement on the modalities for submitting the Agreement on the modalities for submitting the outcomes of the Special Session to the African Union outcomes of the Special Session to the African Union at its summit to be held in July 2009at its summit to be held in July 2009

OutcomesOutcomes

The The expected outcomesexpected outcomes of the third Special Session of the third Special Session of AMCEN includeof AMCEN include

Single African voice to advance the continent’s interests Single African voice to advance the continent’s interests in negotiations for the climate regime beyond 2012;in negotiations for the climate regime beyond 2012;

Common African position in climate change Common African position in climate change negotiations;negotiations;

Strong political support from African heads of State and Strong political support from African heads of State and Government for a shared vision on efforts to combat Government for a shared vision on efforts to combat climate change in Africa and Africa’s common climate change in Africa and Africa’s common negotiating position; negotiating position;

Enhanced capacity of the African group of negotiators Enhanced capacity of the African group of negotiators in selected thematic areas;in selected thematic areas;

Harmonized climate change programmes on the Harmonized climate change programmes on the continent to ensure coherence and building of continent to ensure coherence and building of synergies;synergies;

Effective engagement with the international community Effective engagement with the international community in developing solutions to tackle the challenges posed in developing solutions to tackle the challenges posed by climate change;by climate change;

Initiation of a consultative and participatory process for Initiation of a consultative and participatory process for the development of Africa’s policy on climate change.the development of Africa’s policy on climate change.

Schedule of meetings

Africa Group of negotiators – 23 to 26 Africa Group of negotiators – 23 to 26 May ’09 (Closed Sessions)May ’09 (Closed Sessions)

Special Session – Experts Segment -25 Special Session – Experts Segment -25 to 26 May ’09 (Plenary Sessions – Open)to 26 May ’09 (Plenary Sessions – Open)

Side –Events – 27 & 28* May ’09 (Open)Side –Events – 27 & 28* May ’09 (Open) Technical briefing of Ministers of Technical briefing of Ministers of

Environment – 28 May ’09 (Open)Environment – 28 May ’09 (Open) Special Session of AMCEN on climate Special Session of AMCEN on climate

change- Ministerial Session – 29 May change- Ministerial Session – 29 May ’09 (Mix of Open and Closed Sessions)’09 (Mix of Open and Closed Sessions)

Mini-Exhibition*Mini-Exhibition*

BREAK-OUT SESSIONS(Closed Sessions)

POLICY RELATED GROUP (Gp. 1) POLICY RELATED GROUP (Gp. 1) Draft Nairobi declaration on African process Draft Nairobi declaration on African process

for combating climate change;for combating climate change; Draft key political messagesDraft key political messages Draft elements of climate change policy for Draft elements of climate change policy for

AfricaAfrica AFRICAN NEGOTIATORS GROUP (Gp. AFRICAN NEGOTIATORS GROUP (Gp.

2) closed session)2) closed session) FRAMEWORK ROGRAMMES GROUP FRAMEWORK ROGRAMMES GROUP

(Gp. 3) (Gp. 3) Draft conceptual framework of African climate Draft conceptual framework of African climate

change programmeschange programmes Draft decisionsDraft decisions Draft key political decisionsDraft key political decisions

POST SPECIAL SESSIONPOST SPECIAL SESSION

Submission to the AU Summit in July Submission to the AU Summit in July 20092009

Subregional consultative meetings Subregional consultative meetings under the auspices of the RECs before under the auspices of the RECs before October 2009October 2009

AMCEN’s pre- COP meeting for African AMCEN’s pre- COP meeting for African High Level Expert Panel on climate High Level Expert Panel on climate Change in Addis Ababa in October 2009Change in Addis Ababa in October 2009

President’s of AMCEN’s initiativePresident’s of AMCEN’s initiativeCopenhagen 2009 (COP15/CMP5)Copenhagen 2009 (COP15/CMP5)Post Copenhagen 2009 -13Post Copenhagen 2009 -13thth session of session of

AMCEN in April/May 2010AMCEN in April/May 2010

ConclusionConclusion

Africa will have a common and Africa will have a common and informed voice at Copenhagen informed voice at Copenhagen 2009 and a shared vision for 2009 and a shared vision for combating climate change.combating climate change.

Thank you for coming Thank you for coming and your kind attentionand your kind attention