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President Kikwete at COP 19: The situation is tough and challenging

21 November 2013

President Kikwete at COP 19: The situation is tough and challenging

Warsaw, Poland- 21 November 2013 – “It is not easy, it is tough and challenging, but we are tough enough to be able to succeed, said President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, the president of the United Republic of Tanzania, in his address to the African Group of Ministers and Negotiators at the ongoing Global Climate Change Negotiation (COP19) meeting, held on Thursday, 21 November 2013, in Warsaw, Poland.

Speaking, in his capacity as the Coordinator of the Committee of African Heads of State and Governments on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), President Kikwete, stressed that the situation is so bad in terms of climate change, calling the national and international communities for urgent actions. He expressed his satisfaction regarding the African position. We speak with one voice; we should remain with one voice, said president Kikwete.

The current coordinator thanked AMCEN and the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) for the front line role in the negotiation and encouraged them to maintain unity of purpose and continue to speak with one voice around the African common position. President Kikwete also said that this approach would enable Africa to overcome difficulties in the negotiation towards the future we want.

He had an interactive discussion during the meeting with the African ministers who commended his able leadership and reaffirmed their commitment to championing Africa’s interest at COP19.

Speaking at the meeting, Commissioner Rhoda Peace Tumusiime, AU Commissioner for Rural Development and Agriculture reiterated the full commitment of the African Union Commission, which remains at the service of the AU Member States. It is gratifying that the African leadership has placed issues of the climate change high on the political agenda, said Commissioner Rhoda. The AU Member States are taking country level action to deal with climate change issues while remaining engaged in global climate change negotiations, she added.

During the meeting Dr. Terezya L. Huvisa, Tanzanian Minister of State for Environment, and current President of African Ministerial Conference on the African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN) has handover Africa’s Adaptation Gap Technical Report to President Kikwete. The report is a stark analysis of where Africa Stands in relation to its adaptation goals and is a cautionary indicator of what may happen should the emission gap remain necessitating additional adaptation.

For media inquiries and furthur information:

Mr. Molalet Tsedeke

Directorate of Information and Communication

AU Commission

molalett@africa-union.org; molalet24t@yahoo.com

Tel: 51 7665 081

Event

Senegal offers to host the next African COP in 2016

20 November 2013

Senegal offers to host the next African COP in 2016

Warsaw, Poland- 20 November 2013- The Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Senegal, H.E. Mr. Mor Ngom (in the middle), today 20 November 2013, addressed African Group of Negotiators (AGN) to ensure effective participation of the COPs at different levels. In addition, the minister informed the AGN Group that Senegal has offered to host the next African COP in 2016, which is the 22nd Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 12th Session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (COP22/CMP12).

Worth noting, that Sudan has been elected as the In-coming Chair of the African Group of Negotiators at the UNFCCC COP and to commence his 2-year tenure from 1st January 2014 till 31st December 2016. Since 2012 Mr. Emmanuel Dlamini of Swaziland was leading the negotiations at the UNFCCC COP18 in Doha and COP19 in Warsaw, on behalf of the African Group of Negotiators (AGN).

Further information and media inquiries:

Mr. Molalet Tsedeke

Directorate of Information and Communication

AU Commission

molalett@africa-union.org; molalet24t@yahoo.com

Tel: +48 51 7665 081

Event

AFRICA DAY: Ministers of AU Member States and stakeholders hold panel discussion

19 November 2013

AFRICA DAY: Ministers of AU Member States and stakeholders hold panel discussion at COP19

Warsaw, Poland 19 November 2013- “solutions to address African agriculture in the face of adverse impacts of climate change cannot be effective unless they are supported by appropriate means of implementation such as finance and technology transfer and development”, this was stressed by H.E Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) during the Africa Day panel discussion at COP19 on 19 November 2013, in Warsaw, Poland.

In her statement, delivered by Commissioner Rhoda Peace Tumusiime of the AUC Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture, Dr. Dlamini Zuma said Africa considers that adequate finance and technology are essential for the development of the African Agricultural Agenda. “We continue to call for all polluters to commit to ambitious green house gas emission reductions which otherwise would continue to undermine our development trajectory”, the Chairperson said.

Under the theme Climate Change and Agriculture in Development and Ending Hunger in Africa, Ministers and participants exchanged views and shared experience on issues of agriculture in the global climate change negotiations, mainstreaming climate change adaptation into the African development agenda, innovative research and technologies for adaptation to climate change in African agriculture, and options for financing climate change adaptation in African agriculture.

Dr. Dlamini Zuma highlighted that the celebration of the Africa Day at COP 19 is further unique because of the celebration of 50 years anniversary since the founding of the Organization of the African Unity (OAU), and 10 years since the birth of the African Union (AU) under the theme “Pan Africanism and the African Renaissance. She further noted that Pan Africanism represents the movement to unite Africa and the people of African Descent the world over, working together in solidarity, to fight against injustice including climate justice.

“The two dimensions of the theme are centrally connected to the ideas that Africa is speaking with a unified strong voice in the global climate change negotiations under the able leadership and guidance of a unified structure of the Committee of the African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) and the African Ministerial Conference of Environment (AMCEN) serviced by the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN)”, she said. (The full statement of the Chairperson is available on www.au.int).

On the margin of the UNFCCC COP19, the Africa Day panel discussion was jointly organized by the African Union Commission (AUC), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the Africa Development Bank (AfDB). The event brought together African Ministers, delegates, experts, civil society organizations, RECs representatives, development partners, and media representatives among others.

Further information and media inquiries:

Mr. Molalet Tsedeke

Directorate of Information and Communication

AU Commission

molalett@africa-union.org; molalet24t@yahoo.com

Tel: +48 51 7665 081

Speeches

Welcome Remarks by H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Chairperson of the African Un

Welcome Remarks by H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma

Chairperson of the African Union Commission

at Africa Day Side Events during the Nineteenth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Ninth Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to its Kyoto Protocol (COP 19 / CMP 9)

Side Event Room Wroclaw, National Stadium, Warsaw, Poland

19 November 2013

Excellences, Ministers

Representatives of sister insitutions: UNECA, AfDB and NPCA

Representatives of RECs

Members of the Diplomatic Corp

Distinguished Delegates

Ladies and Gentlemen,

First and foremost, I would like to convey the warm greetings of H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma for the Africa Day and to welcome you all to the Africa Day Side Events taking place here in this beautiful city of Warsaw, Poland during the Nineteenth Session of the Conference to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Ninth Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to its Kyoto Protocol (COP 19/CMP9).

Excellences,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me seize this unique opportunity to recall that in 2003 in Maputo, Mozambique, the African leaders adopted the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) for the Development of Agriculture on the African continent. Excellences, to celebrate the first decade of CAADP, the 19th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government held in July in 2012 made a Declaration that the Year 2014 becomes the Year of Agriculture and Food Security. The theme of the Africa Day side event today, Climate Change and Agriculture in development in Africa during the 19th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 9th Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to it Kyoto (COP 19/CMP9) taking place today the 19th Day of November 2013 here in Warsaw, Poland is, therefore, very unique, timely and strategic. Excellences permit me to further recall that the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP 17) held in 2011 in Durban, South Africa also turned the global attention to the issue of Agriculture in the current Climate Change negotiations. This is also very important and strategic because all events have led to increased awareness on the impacts of climate change in Africa and in particular in the context of adaptation in Africa with special emphasis on Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Security to end hunger on the African continent.

Excellences, I am happy to inform you that the African Union Commission is preparing for 2014 by organizing a series of events including today’s event to mobilize support for the African Agricultural Agenda, in the quest for enhancing development in the face of climate change and other mega-trends such as rising population and increasing urbanisation.

Excellences, convening the Africa Day side events today, is further in implementation of another landmark African Union Decision taken by the 20th Ordinary Session held in January 2013 in Addis Ababa, on the Coordination Mechanism of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) and Africa’s preparation for COP 19, which requested the Commission, in collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the African Development Bank (AfDB), and other partners to step up their efforts and support towards an effective Africa’s preparation for the COP19 so that Africa’s interests are advanced and safeguarded.

Excellences,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The celebration of the Africa Day at COP 19 is further unique because in May this year, Africa celebrated 50 years since the founding of the Organization of the African Unity (OAU), and 10 years since the birth of the African Union (AU) under the theme “Pan Africanism and the African Renaissance”. Excellences, Pan Africanism represents the movement to unite Africa and the people of African Descent the world over, working together in solidarity, to fight against injustice including climate justice. The two dimensions of the theme are centrally connected to the idea that Africa is speaking with a unified strong voice in the global climate change negotiations under the able leadership and guidance of a unified structure of the Committee of the African Heads of States and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) and the African Ministerial Conference of Environment (AMCEN) ably serviced by the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN). We are proud and confident of this.

Excellences, the latest Scientific Assessment Report of the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released last month indicated that the effect of climate change is due to human influence and would lead to extreme weather temperature and patterns in Africa thereby affecting our Agricultural sector with the dire need to support development of National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPAs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) in Agriculture.

Excellences, I would, therefore, stress that the need for solutions to address African agriculture in the face of adverse impacts of climate change cannot be effective unless they are supported by appropriate means of implementation such as finance and technology transfer and development. In this regard, Africa demands that adequate finance and technology is essential for the development of the African Agricultural Agenda. At the same time, we continue to call for all polluters to commit to ambitious green house gas emissions which otherwise would continue to undermine or development trajectory.

I thank you all for your kind attention, and wish you all Happy Africa Day Celebrations!

Event

Africa Day: High-level meeting at UNFCCC COP19

18 November 2013

MEDIA ADVISORY

AFRICA DAY: High-level meeting at UNFCCC COP19

INVITATION TO THE MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES

What: High level meeting of the Africa Day in the margins of the 19th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 9th Session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CoP19/CMP9).

Theme: “Climate Change and Agriculture in Development and Ending Hunger in Africa”

When: Tuesday, 19 November 2013 at 11:30 – 13:00

Where: Warsaw, Poland (National Stadium, Wroclaw room).

Who: Jointly organized by the African Union Commission (AUC); the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA); and the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Objective: The objective of the Africa Day high-level segment will be:

• Showcasing and bringing to life issues of climate change in Africa;

• Providing a platform for interaction by policy makers, scientists and practitioners;

• Expert discourse and open debates that set the context for Africa-relevant climate change issues and themes in the larger framework of sustainable development in Africa;

• Knowledge-sharing among stakeholders working in and/or for Africa;

Participants: Africa’s political leaderships, Ministers of AU Member States, AU Commission, NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA), development partners, experts, UNFCC focal persons, media representatives and other stakeholders.

Background:

The 19th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 9th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CoP19/CMP9) is taking place at the National Stadium, in Warsaw, Poland, from 11 to 22 November. "COP19/CMP9 affords an opportunity to consolidate responses to climate change and to showcase the many ambitious adaptation and mitigation initiatives being implemented around the world. By scaling and speeding up action we prepare for a universal global agreement and move toward a safer future.”

Mandated by the African Union Assembly (Assembly/Dec.342(XVI)) on COP16/CMP6, and with the leadership of the African Union Commission (AUC), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the Government of South Africa, a very successful ‘African Pavilion’ event was organised during COP17/CMP7. The African Pavilion offered an opportunity for a wide range of actors to showcase some important initiatives on climate change and development in Africa. This marked a significant shift from Africa’s low-key participation at previous COPs.

Beginning COP15/CMP5, Africa’s focus shifted to supporting the African Group of Negotiators (AGN). Representatives from Africa also participated in side events and organised various meetings with partners for fundraising and joint research programme activities.

Journalists are invited to attend and cover the event on 19 November 2013 from 11:30 to 13:00, in Wroclaw room, Warsaw National Stadium, Warsaw, Poland.

The provisional programme is attached:

Further information

Media inquiries should be addressed to Mr. Molalet Tsedeke, Directorate of Communication and Information, AU Commission; molalett@africa-union.org ; molalet24t@yahoo.com Tel: +48 51 7665081; www.au.int.

Speeches

Opening Remarks by H.E. Tumusiime Rhoda Peace Commissioner for Department for

Opening Remarks by H.E. Tumusiime Rhoda Peace

Commissioner for Department for Rural Economy and Agriculture,

AMCEN Consultative Meeting in Preparation for UNFCCC COP 19

17th November 2013; 09:00 am – 04:30 pm

Radisson Blu Centrum Hotel

Warsaw, Poland

Honourable Minister of State-Environment in Tanzania, and the AMCEN President

Honourable Ministers of AMCEN Bureau

Executive Secretary of AMCEN

Distinguished Delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me start by welcoming you and also conveying to you the warm greetings and best wishes from the Chairperson of the African Union, HE Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma. Her Excellency Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, is not here with us much as she would have wished to come. She is aware of and appreciates the important role you are playing in advancing Africa’s common interests.

I would also like to register appreciation to UNEP and the AMCEN Secretariat and our other partners for the cooperation and collaboration with the African Union Commission and all the special efforts and hard work involved in convening this important meeting in preparation for the ongoing UNFCCC COP 19 here in Poland.

Excellences,

Distinguished Delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Our meeting today is taking place just after the 5th AMCEN Special Session held in Gaborone, Botswana last Month, during which we discussed the preparation for the COP 19 and development of Flagship Programs.

Before that, in preparations for this COP 19, the Conference of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) met in New York on 24th September 2013 to ensure that Africa, as per our recent tradition, speaks with one voice, under the political leadership of H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kwikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania and, the current CAHOSCC Coordinator; and H.E. Minister of State-Environment in Tanzania, and the current AMCEN President.

CoP19 matters a lot to Africa. It is a critical juncture to strategize our common position at the ongoing negotiations of COP19 here in Warsaw, Poland, towards a fair agreement expected to be concluded in 2015 at COP 21 in Paris.

Excellences,

Distinguished Delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Part of our strategies include: maintaining our unity of purpose in the negotiations, having a stronger voice, and reaffirmation of Africa’s interests in the global negotiations.

Our discussion today is at the right moment for Africa to take stock of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Sustainable environmental management, and adaptation to, and mitigating the negative impacts of climate change are some of the areas that require our joint efforts.

Meantime, I urge our Developed Countries Partners to consider the plight of the teeming African populace most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change and to take on more ambitious emission cuts for the Second Commitment Period and to further ensure the survival of Planet Earth from the different climate-related disasters. We treasure our partnerships with other regions of the world, we are keen to strengthen these partnerships and we wish to invoke their sense of solidarity in respect of this common cause against climate change.

Excellences,

Distinguished Delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Harnessing the opportunities offered by Pan Africanism strengthens our position in speaking with one voice and acting with a common sense of purpose in the global climate change negotiations here at COP 19. Pan Africanism is also very crucial for us to move together as a block looking forward to the global binding agreement.

African Renaissance on the other hand, gives us the sense of confidence that it is Africa’s turn to be a global force. That feeling of renewed confidence in our own capabilities will act as a stimulus in driving us towards the achievement of Africa’s Common Vision 2063 and we have to do everything possible to prevent climate change undermining this trajectory.

Excellences,

Distinguished Delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my conviction that the AMCEN has a critical role to play in steering the Ministerial process but also linking up with continental political engagements for effective synergies and drive to secure a fair Global climate change agreement. Unfortunately, the road ahead does not seem to be easy as we see limited commitment on the part of a number of State Parties and some recent pronouncements by some in the developed world have been disheartening.

In this regard, I wish to reassure you that the African Union Commission will continue to support AMCEN activities and African Group of Negotiators (AGN) towards promoting and strengthening African Common Position on Climate Change and in general, environmental sustainability on the continent and in marshalling partnerships to combat climate change and deal with its impacts.

For Africa, let us stay the course. We have more at stake than others.

Your Excellences, Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank you for your kind attention.

NOW

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