APRIL Climate Change: Issues and Events

Transcription

1 APRIL Climate Change: Issues and Events

2 Contents Contents Increasing donor confidence puts, 90 million USD in RECs Climate Change initiative - 1 High Level partnership of Africa Climate Solution launched at COP17-3 COMESA- DFID Sign 38 Million Pound Grant Agreement to Support COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Climate Change Programme - 8 COMESA,EAC-SADC strategize on Climate change - 11 COMESA- EAC and CCAFS, organise a Post- Durban Dialogue on Climate change and Agriculture - 12 COMESA- EAC-SADC Tripartite Vision on Climate change, Lauded by AMSEN - 15 COMESA-EAC-SADC Youth hold a climate change conference ahead of COP Design and Photographs Phillip Kambafwile Partners: the COMESA Climate change, and COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Climate Change Initiative have been a success thanks to a number of Donors, major ones being: The European Union, The Royal Norwegian Government, DFID and Rockefeller Foundation For more information contact: Mweusi Karake, PR & Communication Officer Climate Change Initiative mkarake@comesa.int Climate Change: Issues and Events Printed by:...

3 Increasing donor confidence puts, 90 million USD in RECs Climate Change initiative There is an old African wisdom that good things sell themselves. When the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA),Secretary General, Sindiso Ngwenya launched what he called Africa Bio Carbon Initiative at the fourteenth Conference of parties (COP 14) on 10th November 2008, in Panazon Poland; the first question that skeptics asked was where will the money come from? but as the famous American singer John Berry once put it A good idea plus capable men [ read women too]cannot fail; it is better than money in the bank By November 2008, COMESA was starting a Climate change programme with an initial US Dollars (USD) 500,000 ( five hundred thousand) only; from Rockefeller foundation. But that did not stop it dreaming of an African solution. With just a USD 500,000 budget! From the time go, COMESA knew that no unwilling politicians, no immigration officer, no overzealous security officer, no natural or artificial barriers will stand in front of climate change and demand a passport, a license, or a movement pass. So COMESA knew that to have a real solution to climate change one has to work with neghbours. So COMESA, budget not withstanding; immediately offered its programme to the East African Community (EAC) and Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) in the spirit of the Tripartite, with an eye focusing at the whole of the African continent. Just after the launch, December 2008, the Royal Norwegian government, injected in 17 million Kroner, which was then about 2.5 million US Dollars, another grant agreement between COMESA and the Royal Norwegian government was signed, in 2009 worth USD 1 million on behalf of COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite and in December 2011 an additional 20 million USD making the total Norwegian grant 23.5 million. Earlier in 2010, the European Union had also come in with Euro four million ( Equivalent to 5.3 million Dollars), and USAID with USD 200,000, and last month ( 23rd march 2012), the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland acting through the Department for International Development (DFID) signed a grant agreement with COMESA, on behalf of the tripartite; worth British 38 million ( equivalent to 64 million USD) meant to support the Programme on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in Eastern and Southern Africa. Thus as at end of March 2012, only three years and three months, after the launch, over USD 90 million in different hard currencies had been mobilized for the programme. Who can then dispute that a good idea is worth more than money in the bank? 1 Climate Change: Issues and Events

4 What has been achieved so far? At the international level, it has been thanks to this programme that agriculture has found itself on United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC), indeed the first draft submission on agriculture that formed the basis for Africa Group of negotiators at COP 15 in Copenhagen Poland; was developed by COMESA in February Since COP 15, COMESA working with sister RECs has mobilized and supported African negotiators, scientists, civil societies to actively participate and lobby for the inclusion of agriculture at COP15, COP 16 and COP 17. At COP 17, in Durban south Africa for the first time, land mark decisions on agriculture were made. This support will continue to ensure that Africa s voice is heard. Thanks to the capacity building that was provided, COMESA, this year ( February 2012) a number of countries made submissions to SBSTA. A number of countries in Eastern and Southern Africa have also been assisted draft their National Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs), and some have made submissions. Some countries have also been assisted mainstream climate change in national development plans. In additions, thousands of farmers have so far been assisted practice climate smart conservation agriculture. Is 90 million USD a lot of money? Yes and no! Yes- taking into account where we were three years ago and where we are today. No- if one was to take into account the kind of challenges that climate change poses in our region and resources needed. In the long-term, the programme aims at enhancing sustainable natural resources management, food security, livelihoods of rural populations, facilitate adaptation to climate change, and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The overall goal of the programme is to contribute to poverty reduction and economic growth by addressing challenges of climate change. The current programme runs up to It has given itself, amoung other things; a target of getting at least 1.3 million small holder farmers, most of these rural women into climate resilient agriculture. It intends to help some countries access their vulnerability so as to take early response. There is also an ambition to mainstream Climate change into school curriculae, right at the tender age of kindergarten and primary schools. And above all into the curricular of those who teach them. So more and more money will be needed. COMESA-EAC-SADC population is around 600 million, assuming that 10 % are small famers, even if one was to pick on just one area of support such as Conservation Agriculture, expert estimate that, at least 2.4 Bn Dollars would be needed per year if we were to reach every small farmer. The journey is still long, but as the Chinese say a journey of 1000 miles starts with one step. Climate Change: Issues and Events 2

5 High Level partnership of Africa Climate Solution launched at COP17 Children at COP17, being served. Climate change is a threat to the future Durban, South Africa: As the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, (UNFCCC) headed to its conclusion, on Monday 5th December 2011 ; at a Side Event, organised by Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), a tripartite agreement on climate change was launched by three African Regions Economic Communities (RECs) aimed at harmonizing programmes approaches in Eastern and Southern Africa. The involved RECs were: COMESA, the Eastern African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Partnering with the European Union, Royal Norwegian Government and the United Kingdom. 3 Climate Change: Issues and Events

6 Speaking at the launch of the initiative, COMESA Secretary General Sindiso Ngwenya said the COMESA-EAC-SADC Climate Change initiative is a novel idea involving building blocks of African Economic communities, that not only occupy a contiguous space on the continent but also have overlapping memberships; which stems from the need to harmonise programme approaches among these three RECs. He added that the first flagship programme of the Tripartite is the creation of a grand Free Trade Area from Cape to Cairo, followed by an ambitious infrastructure development programme; that will seamlessly interconnect the Eastern and Southern Africa. The membership of the three RECs constitute half the African continent. Comoros Vice President Fouad Mohadji who officially launched the initiative said the new partnership is a testimony of the engagement of the countries partnership. The Vice President was of the view that the partnership will help scale-up agriculture programmes and contribute to the growth of local communities in the three regions. Mr Mohadji added that the main aim of the Tripartite Climate Change initiative is to support the African efforts at UNFCCC to ensure that agriculture is accommodated in a manner that is responsive to the interests of Africa and its people. Climate Change: Issues and Events 4 Comoros Vice President, COMESA Secretary General and SADC Deputy Secretary General

7 Africa has always been about additional resources, technology and enhanced capacity to enable the continent adapt to climate change as well as realise its full adaptation and mitigation potentials he pointed out; adding that for small island nations climate change is a matter of survival. our very existence is threatened he emphasized Capacity building is required for stakeholders in Africa to articulate, mobilise and sustainably implement adaptation and mitigation interventions that benefit the majority of Africans he concluded. As indicated, the tripartite initiative is supported by Norway, EU and DfID in a multi donor financial arrangement. Besides, supporting Africa s presence at UNFCCC; its initial focus is to scale up climate smart agriculture among the most vulnerable smallholder farmers many of whom are women. Through this partnership, Europe teamed up with Africa to come up with a new cooperation arrangement that will support Africa to address the most pressing challenges to food security; through the wide adoption of climate smart agriculture; building the capacity of African institutions, to handle climate change and lay the foundation for the continent s sustainable green growth and development. Millions of different hard currencies, will be given to the initiative to undertake programmes that focus on up scaling climate smart agriculture among the most vulnerable smallholder farmers many of who are women for a period of five years. Speaking at the launch, United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Special Representative on Climate Change John Aston said there is need to rebuild the development model which he said had been broken. We are biting much already; we will not have security unless we lay a foundation on the four basic pillars that include water, food, energy and shelter. he said. Every time I come to Africa I wish that our financiers would come and learn from Africa s lessons on resilience. We have lost value of resilient. He said Mr. Aston added that the partnership will give Africa a voice that has in the past been weak. He said the initiative offers a great opportunity for security and a stronger Every time I come to Africa I wish that response to climate change our financiers would come and learn from Africa s lessons on resilience. We The royal Norwegian government was have lost value of resilient 5 Climate Change: Issues and Events

8 represented at the event by Mr. Arvin Godgil, Deputy Minister for environment who immediately announced a Euro 20 million in support of the programme. Climate Change: Issues and Events 6 And SADC Deputy Secretary Executive Joao Kaholo, who represented his institution at the event, said that to Africa climate change means drought, flood and loss of productivity due to human activity. To have this partnership that will support the enhancement of climate change programmes in Africa is commendable, he noted. The Deputy Secretary General of EAC Jean Claude Nsengiyumva, praised the partnership and thanked COMESA for spearheading the initiative. About the COMESA-EAC-SADC Climate change solution The tripartite Climate Change solution that was launched on Monday 5th December 2011; places a priority on increasing the resilience of the poor to climate related changes by scaling up climate resilient farming practices such as conservation agriculture and agro forestry. The support to the programme will enable evidence-based policy interventions to increase climate resilience, particularly linked to food security, across countries in Eastern and Southern Africa. It will also provide targeted evidenced-based training to small-scale farmers to introduce climate resilient agriculture practices. Demonstration of successful trials and scaled up practices will be used to access climate finance through the championship of the Tripartite. Expected results include: 250,000 small scale farmers using climate resilient agriculture practices; a 10% increase of farmed land in key countries under climate resilient farming systems; a 20% increase in yields amongst trained farmers; at least 10 countries more climate resilient through strengthened assessment and analysis of vulnerability; and US$300m climate finance leveraged. Major donors supporting the Africa Climate Solution are Norway, the EU, UK and DFID.

9 In pictures COMESA holding consultations with different stakeholders and partners at COP17 7 Climate Change: Issues and Events

10 COMESA- DFID Sign 38 Million Pound Grant Agreement to Support COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Climate Change Programme Climate Change: Issues and Events 8 TPretoria 23rd March 2012, he Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) on behalf of the COMESA-EAC- SADC Tripartite and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland acting through the Department for International Development (DFID), on 23rd march 2012, signed a grant agreement worth British 38 million meant to support the Programme on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA- EAC-SADC) region. The project is scheduled to run from April 2012, to March 2015 The agreement was signed by the COMESA Secretary General Sindiso Ngwenya, who is also the chairman of the COMESA-SADC-EAC Tripartite Task Force on behalf of the Tripartite; and Sarah Dunn head DFID Southern Africa on behalf of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Out of the 38 million, 27 million will be used to improve quality and harmonization of policy on climate resilient agriculture, informed by evidence; and to support famers scale-up Climate Smart Agriculture in Eastern and Southern Africa by using improved, locally relevant climate resilient agriculture practices in order to increase their climate resilience. 5 million will support evidence and learning on climate resilient agriculture practices, to enhance effectiveness of programme delivery and global knowledge, whereas 6 million will support policy responses to vulnerability constantly informed and

11 influenced by improved assessment of climate vulnerability (who, where, and why) across the region. In 2010, following a visit by the Secretary Generals of the three Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to London, an MOU was signed between the RECs and the UK Government s Department for International Development (DFID), entering into a cooperation agreement that, moved the already existing relationship to a greater height. DFID and the Tripartite have been working closely over the years in strengthening the Tripartite which coordinates arrangements between COMESA, EAC and SADC to deepen regional integration; economic growth and poverty reduction in Africa. On 5th December 2010, at the margins of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 17th Conference of parties (COP17), that took place in Durban South Africa, at a COMESA organized high level side event, the European Union, Norway and UK launched a high-level partnership on climate change solution, where they agreed to team up with Africa to come up with a new cooperation arrangement that will support Africa to address the most pressing challenges to food security through the wide adoption of climate smart agriculture. Speaking at the launch, United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Special Representative on Climate Change, John Aston, said there is need to rebuild the development model which he said has been broken. He called upon the international community to learn lessons from Africa s resilience. COMESA Participates at the UN climate change conference in Durban The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Secretariat has since 2009 been participating in UN Climate Change conferences. Thus in November- December2011, COMESA was represented at the UNFCC/ Seventeenth Conference of Parties (COP17) that ran from 28th November through to 9th December in Durban, South Africa. The COMESA team was led by the COMESA Secretary General Sindiso Ngwenya. COMESA also sponsored different delegates from Member states that included government officials, civil societies, youth organizations and the media to ensure that Africa s voice was loud and clear. COMESA also set up a stand in the African pavilion where they shared information on COMESA Climate Change programmes and learning from experiences from other stakeholders. This being the first conference of parties on the African soil, three African leaders 9 Climate Change: Issues and Events

12 launched the Africa Pavilion at the meeting. Presidents Jacob Zuma of host country, South Africa, Idriss Déby of Chad, and Vice President Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos of Angola visited the Africa Pavilion as the conference got underway. The three leaders insisted that Africa s voice be heard collectively throughout this key UN event. Visiting an authentic larger-than-life simulation of an African rain forest spanning 500 square metres, President Zuma said: This pavilion puts up a very powerful case for the continent of Africa. People will come here not just to discuss theories and imagine Africa. They are going to see it in reality. I think this is an absolute innovation we have made. The South African President added: This pavilion represents Africa in its totality. And I think it makes a powerful case to this conference. The idea of an African Pavilion was originated by COMESA Climate Change advisor, Dr Maclay Kanyangarara, who sold it to Mrs Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, Africa Union Commissioner for Agriculture. Once the idea was widely bought, The Africa Development Bank (AfDB) provided the funding. Both AUC Chairman Dr Jean Ping, and AfDB president Dr Donald Kaberuka, visited the COMESA pavilion. The Africa Pavilion, which was located within the precincts of the UNFCCC, served as a platform to have Africa s voice heard. To demonstrate Africa s ability to be part of the solution to the challenges of climate change on the continent, the Pavilion hosted a full program of roundtables and events during the UN climate conference. AfDB President, Dr Donald Kaberuka and COMESA Secretary General, Sindiso Ngwenya at the COMESA pavilion Climate Change: Issues and Events 10

13 COMESA,EAC-SADC strategize on Climate change Participants to the tripartite Climate change strategic meeting. Arusha, Tanzania: Senior officers dealing with different aspects of climate change, from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African Community, (EAC), and the Southern Africa Development Community(SADC) met at the East African Hotel, Arusha, Tanzania on February 2012, for an annual planning on Tripartite climate change adaptation and mitigation programme. The EAC team that hosted the three Regional Economic Community (RECs) was led by Ms Wivine Yolande Ntamubano, Principal Environment and Natural Resources Officer at the EAC secretariat, who also chaired the meeting, the COMESA team was led by Dr Mclay Kanyangarara, the COMESA Climate Change advisor, whereas the SADC team was led by Ms Margaret Nyirenda; Director Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources at SADC secretariat.eac is based in Arusha Tanzania, whereas COMESA and SADC are based in Lusaka, Zambia and Gaborone, Botswana respectively. The three RECs deliberated on the work programme and potential activities identifying strength of each, with the view to provide leadership and support to sister RECs making the implementation easier and avoiding duplication. They also looked at available budget and funding, including existing and potential contribution agreements with the view to equitably share these resources, as well as engage donors with one voice. 11 Climate Change: Issues and Events

14 COMESA,SADC and EAC are amoung the eight building blocks recognized by the Africa union and constitute a joint membership of half the African countries and aver 51 percent of the total African population. Their decision to work together on important issues such as climate change therefore speaks volume. The Programme on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in the COMESA-EAC- SADC region is a five-year initiative that started in July 2010, whose aim is to inject Africa s Unified Position on Climate Change into the post-2012 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) global agreement; so as to unlock resources for promoting strategic interventions that sustain productivity and livelihood improvements for millions of climate-vulnerable people in the region. COMESA- EAC and CCAFS, organise a Post-Durban Dialogue on Climate change and Agriculture Arusha, Johannesburg and Bujumbura: The importance of agriculture to economic growth and rural livelihoods, its vulnerability to climate change implies that building resilience to climate change in Africa must be of primary importance. In this regard comprehensive agricultural adaptation and mitigation strategies to meet food and income needs of current and future generations have to be implemented. Taking the above importance, The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has been promoting the inclusion of Agriculture on the UNFCC negotiations. For the first time in history, at the recently concluded seventeenth Conference of the Parties (COP17) held on 28th November- 8th December 2011 in Durban, South Africa, parties agreed to establish a framework for exchanging views on issues related to agriculture under the Subsidiary Body on Scientific Technical Advice (SBSTA) Participants at post-durban Dialogue on CC and agriculture Climate Change: Issues and Events 12

15 Parties to the negotiations were expected to make submissions to SBSTA not later that 5th March To assist parties in Eastern and Southern Africa. COMESA, the East African Community (EAC); in collaboration with Climate Change Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS-EA), a global programme of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), mid February 2012 jointly organised a regional climate change meeting of experts. The meeting brought together climate change and agriculture experts from Central, Eastern, Northern and the Hone of Africa namely: Burundi, R D Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Participants were drawn from government institutions, farmer organizations, research institutions, civil society organizations, universities, the private sector, and NGOs; with a view to developing a common position on issues related to SBSTA submission. The three-day meeting that started on 14th February 2012 at Mt. Meru Hotel, Arusha Tanzania, examined the outcome of UNFCCC/COP 17. The meeting focused on decisions on agriculture with a view to propose activities that would be considered under the agricultural work programme by Parties (members of UNFCCC). The meetings were facilitated by Dr George Wamukoya, COMESA Climate change advisor, who is also a highly experienced climate change negotiator. At the end of the meeting participants came up with a draft submission paper that each party would tailor to its needs prior to submission to SBSTA. COMESA as the Africa largest Economic grouping also made its submission as an observer to UNFCC. In order to ensure full participation of its members, a follow up meeting was held for its Southern Africa members in Johannesburg, South Africa; just after the Arusha meeting. A national dialogue meeting was also held in Bujumbura Burundi, at the request of the Government of Burundi to assist the country meet the 5th February submission deadline. COMESA Countries lead in submission to SBSTA Article 9 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change establishes an open-ended intergovernmental scientific advisory body known as the Subsidiary Body on Scientific Technical Advice (SBSTA); to provide the Conference of the Parties (COP) and, as appropriate, to its other subsidiary bodies, with timely advice relating to the implementation of the Convention; SBSTA is to report regularly to the COP on all aspects of its work. Multidisciplinary and open to participation by all Parties, SBSTA comprises government representatives competent in the relevant field of expertise. Its functions include: providing assessments of the status of biological diversity; providing assessments of the types of measures taken in accordance with the provisions of the Convention; and responding to questions that the COP may put to the body. 13 Climate Change: Issues and Events

16 At the 17th Conference of Parties (COP17), held in Durban South Africa, an agreement was reached to mandate SBSTA, at its May-June 2012 session, to consider issues related to agriculture with a view to preparing a decision to be adopted at COP18 in November- December 2012 to be held in Qatar. Consequently, Parties and Observer Organizations were expected to make submissions to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) Secretariat, on such issues relating to agriculture by 5 March A visit to UNFCC website revealed that by the D date, seven African counties namely: Burundi, Malawi, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia, had made their national submission, Gambia made submission on behalf of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) with inputs from Malawi incorporating outcomes of the Post -Durban dialogue. Out of the seven that made national submission, five are COMESA countries. The other two had also participated in the COMESA-CCAFS, organized post-durban dialogue meetings that took place in February To assist parties in Eastern and Southern Africa, COMESA, in collaboration with Climate Change Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS-EA), a global programme of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), in February 2012 jointly organized two meetings, one in Arusha Tanzania, for Central, East, North and Horn of Africa countries, and another in Johannesburg, South Africa, for Southern Africa Countries with the view to assist them come up with a working document that they could adopt for their national submission. It is not surprising therefore that all the seven countries that met the deadline had been present at these meetings. Participants at the Burundi SBSTA national dialogue Climate Change: Issues and Events 14

17 In the case of Burundi, COMESA provided additional direct support, through a consultative workshop held in Bujumbura, Burundi on the 4th February 2012;which was attended by senior officers and delegates from The Ministry of Water, environment, territory management and urbanization, the Ministry of energy and mining, the Ministry of agriculture and livestock, and the Office of the President. This allowed Burundi finilise her submission on time. Dr Jean Marie Nibirantije, Minister of Water, environment, territory management and urbanization of the Republic of Burundi, officiated as the guest of honour to the function. COMESA- EAC-SADC Tripartite Vision on Climate change, Lauded by AMSEN Bamako, Mali: The East African Community (EAC) the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Southern African Development Community ( SADC) have already initiated the establishing of the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Climate change programme to facilitate their long-term vision of working together. Announcing the Vision to the 4th Special Africa Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN), taking place in Bamako Mali on September 2011, the EAC Deputy Secretary General, Productive and Social sector Jean Claude Nsengiyumwa, stated that, the visions will be centered on climate change programming focusing on policy negotiations and programmatic activities, by the three Regional Economic Communities, that are currently under the Tripartite arrangement. The COMESA-EAC-SADC tripartite initiative was lauded by the meeting as in line with the overall AMCEN vision that seeks to have the whole of Africa speak with one voice at Climate change fora. The main objective of the Fourth Special Session of AMCEN was to provide a platform for African countries to further consolidate and enhance Africa s common negotiating position for the 17th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties(COP 17), that was to be held in November/December 2011 in Durban South Africa. The special session provided an opportunity for Ministers to discuss the Climate Green Fund and Africa s preparations for Rio+20 including the transitioning towards a Green Economy; and the need to strengthen international environmental governance in the context of institutional framework for sustainable development. The need to include agriculture in climate change negotiations was emphasized. Earlier Speaking at an experts preparatory meeting, the COMESA Climate change advisor Dr Mclay Kanyangarara outlined decisions made by the joint COMESA Ministers of Agriculture and Environment held in Swaziland in June Pointing out amoung other things that, the Ministers had decided that: Ministers of Agriculture should 15 Climate Change: Issues and Events

18 proactively engage in the ongoing climate change discussions in the period up to, during and beyond COP 17 to ensure a decision is reached on agriculture which is responsive to the African situation; and that Member States should include agricultural experts in their multi-disciplinary climate change negotiations teams and ensure consistency and adequate negotiations skills and logistical support. AMCEN was established in December 1985, following a conference of African ministers of environment held in Cairo, Egypt. Its mandate is to provide advocacy for environmental protection in Africa; to ensure that basic human needs are met adequately and in a sustainable manner; to guarantee that social and economic development is realized at all levels; and to make sure that agricultural activities and practices meet the food security needs of Africa. COMESA-EAC-SADC Youth hold a climate change conference ahead of COP 17 Lusaka, Zambia: The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and Green Enviro-Watch a non profit making Environmental youth Organization based in Lusaka, Zambia in October 2011 co- organised a regional youth Conference. The conference took place on 18-21st October, 2011 at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre, Lusaka Zambia under the theme: Enhanced Youth Engagement & Participation in Climate Change for Integrated Sustainable Development in Africa. The conference attracted participation of over 350 youths and youth organization from different countries of COMESA, East African Community(EAC) and the Southern African development Community (SADC) region as well as across Africa and other continents. In Zambia participants were drawn from all the 73 districts for equal opportunities and representation. The objective of the conference was to create a platform for the Youth in the region to increase and enhance their engagement and participation in the developmental process of their countries, consolidate the Cancun outcomes as well as come up with an African Regional Youth declaration on Climate Change; with recommendations to be submitted to the Seventeen United Nations Framework Conversion on Climate Change (UNFCCC)/ Conference of Parties (COP 17) that was scheduled to take place in December in Durban, South Africa. Speaking at the opening session the COMESA Secretary General Sindiso Ngwenya Climate Change: Issues and Events 16

19 in his speech read on his behalf, by the COMESA Climate Change Adviser Dr Mclay Kanyangarara, expressed COMESA s commitment to support the youth in all aspects of development due to their numbers and important role they play I am proud that COMESA played a major role in facilitating the successful hosting of this great convention. COMESA understands the important role that should be played by the youth, who are indeed the future managers of our planet. It is for this reason that we have committed ourselves to work with youth organizations to fight climate change for integrated sustainable development in Africa said Mr. Ngwenya. Today s world population is younger than ever before, with nearly 2.2 billion people under the age of 18 of which 85 percent live in developing countries; most of them in Sub-Saharan Africa where most of COMESA-EAC-SADC countries are located. We at COMESA therefore get very excited when an opportunity to support the youth arises so that they play an important role in addressing issues that affect the world such as climate change he added. The conference addressed a number of issues affecting all social groupings and communities across Africa. The youth discussed different intriguing topics on climate change such as: Overview of Climate Change in the Region (Causes, effects and impact of climate change on trade, food production and social-economic development), National and International Policy: Linking policy and practice, development planning and youth involvement in decision making for climate change activities; low emission development; green products production, clean development mechanisms and role of mines and industries in environmental protection and pollution control, science technology innovations and entrepreneurship; climate information development; gender and adaptation, youth driven climate resilience development (leveraging technical assistance for capacity building, priority areas of support to climate youth driven programs) as well as role of private sector, civil society organizations, faith based organizations and individuals in climate proofing and resilience building of poor communities and countries at large. The list of topics discussed is endless! In 2010, COMESA supported a similar conference in Lilongwe Malawi ahead of COP 16. COMESA has also supported youth representation in some previous COPs. A similar youth conference is scheduled to take place, at a venue and date to be determined ahead of the Eighteenths Conference of Parties (COP 18) that will take place in, Qatar in November December Climate Change: Issues and Events

20 Contact Address: COMESA SECRETARIAT, COMESA Center, Ben Bella Road P.O. Box 30051, Lusaka - Zambia T F info@comesa.int Climate Change: Issues and Events 18