Agriculture headlines climate change negotiations at COP22

For the first time in the history of the Conference of Parties (COP), agriculture was brought to the forefront of climate discussions at the just concluded 22nd session of the conference (COP22), held in Marrakech, Morocco.

Pitched as a major challenge for the COP22, the session of the conference had discussions around the provisions of the Adaptation of African Agriculture (AAA) to Climate Change initiative, as visitors and participants discover the Initiative for the AAA in a dedicated exhibition space.

Launched in April 2016, the triple A initiative declaration seeks to reduce Africa’s agriculture vulnerability to climate change. The initiative, which was launched in Morocco aims at promoting and fostering the implementation of concrete projects that will help improve land and agricultural water management, food security, as well as, the management of the effects of climate change on agriculture and food production.

The initiative seeks to consciously place the Adaptation of the African Agriculture at the center of all debates and negotiations on climate and to obtain a substantial part of the climate funds for Africa.

COP22 is the 22nd session of The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), initiated in 1994, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. The Conference of the Parties (COP) was designated as the supreme governing body of the Convention.
 
Confirming the continent’s commitment to pushing through the initiative, His Majesty, King Mohammed VI of Morocco stated that Africa, which has long been neglected can no longer be ignored.

“The era during which our continent was treated as a mere object in international relations is over. Today, it is an active, respected partner in the debate on global governance.
 
“Morocco, which has hosted COP 22, will defend the position of our continent, which is greatly affected by climate change and sustainable development issues. Cooperation, which is already intense with many countries at the bilateral level, will be further expanded and revitalized,” he said.
 
The President of the Scientific Committee of the AAA, Mohamed Badraoui noted that at the space dedicated to the AAA Initiative, visitors can discover the challenges of the Adaptation of African Agriculture and the projects supported by the initiative through an immersive, pedagogical journey.  “During COP22, the general public showed their support for the initiative through a digital campaign using #WEAAARE on social media.
 
“The supporters will be unveiled through an innovative process: an interactive wall, directly connected to social media, where the names of all the supporters will be printed on posters that will be displayed in the exhibition area of the AAA Initiative.”

He stressed that visitors can also discover specific projects that are already operational or that are seeking funding, particularly those led by Agrimakers, those innovative African farmers who contribute to the development of the continent’s agricultural potential with solutions that are promoted by the AAA Initiative.
 
To discover the profiles of Agrimakers and their solutions, Badraoui said interested public can connect to social media and to the initiative’s YouTube channel.