African Ministers call for strong universal climate agreement

MINISTERS from governments across Africa have renewed their call for a strong and universal climate change agreement with increased flows of funds, including through market and finance opportunities, sufficient to fulfil Africa’s development aspirations.

With countries set to approve a new climate change agreement under the United Nations in Paris in December, African ministers stressed the region’s readiness and requirement for accelerated private and public financing of low-carbon development. Africa, with its vulnerable populations and vast potential, has perhaps the most to lose from climate change and the most to gain from an effective climate change agreement.

“I agree with Ministers that the last 10 years in the implementation of the Clean Development Mechanism is a very valuable asset and that market mechanisms can play a significant role in raising the level of ambition, and supporting climate action,” said Ms. Hakima El Haite, Delegate Minister
in charge of Environment of Morocco.

“In these last eight months before Paris, the focus must shift from restating negotiating positions to finding common ground solutions,” said
UNFCCC Deputy Executive Secretary Richard Kinley at a day-long ministerial segment at the Africa Carbon Forum 2015 hosted by the Kingdom of Morocco.

“All countries have something to gain from the Paris agreement and it is in everyone’s interests to reach a strong conclusion as soon as possible this year. If Heads of State come to Paris, it must be to adopt an agreement that is robust and ready for them.”

The African Carbon Forum 2015 focused on programmes to unleash private sector finance, such as through the Clean Development Mechanism, and scale up other forms of climate finance to strengthen the sustainable development of African countries.

According to the International Energy Agency Africa Energy Outlook 2014, 625 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa, about two-thirds of the population, are without secure access to electricity. Some 730 million people in the region still rely on cooking mostly with wood, harming health
and destroying vital forest cover.

“The coming months provide African countries with a significant opportunity to align their contributions to the Paris climate agreement with their own long-term sustainable development priorities,” said Mr. Kinley. .

Countries are busy detailing their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), which they will submit as their contribution to
climate action under the Paris agreement.

Two clear messages emerged from participants at the African Carbon Forum. .First, linking climate finance to results is essential to stimulate greater funding for both mitigation and adaptation to climate change.

Second, developing countries, including Africa, need tools like the Clean Development Mechanism if they are to successfully shift to a low-carbon
emitting development path.