Africa Pavilion to host over 100 events at COP 21
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia 23 November 2015 (ClimDev-Africa) – The Climate for Development in Africa programme (ClimDev-Africa) initiative plans to host over 100 events at the Africa Pavilion during the entire period of the 21st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 21) scheduled to open in Paris, France on 28 November 2015, according sources at the ClimDev-Africa secretariat.
All Africa-related activities will be hosted at the COP21 Africa Pavilion - an area of about 1000 Sq. meters situated at the centre of the main Exhibition Area of COP21, the sources explain, adding that the pavilion will be an excellent entry point for showcasing not just Africa’s predicaments in the face of climate impacts but a place where the rest of the world will come to listen solution proposals by Africans.
The ClimDev- Africa programme is consortium of three lead development institution in Africa: the Commission of the African Union (AUC), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) that was established and mandated by Africa Heads of State to prepare Africa to better cope with the impacts of climate change and to represent the continent at global climate conferences, including Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Specifically, the Pavilion will host the Africa Day event, comprising panel discussions and conferences to be attended by Heads of State and Government present in Paris. There will be a panel discussion on the New Energy Deal for Africa organized in Davos Style Panel Discussion.
Then, the Executive Secretary of ECA, Dr. Carlos Lopes will lead a panel discussion on Africa’s journey in the global climate negotiations which will follow a presentation on the key findings of an expert group on different angles and perspectives on Africa’s involvement in climate talks.
“It is important to take stock of the cumulative impacts of the global climate governance regime on Africa, to document milestone decisions in the evolution of the UNFCCC, and contribute to identifying pathways for more effective representation of African interests regarding climate change”, according the concept note on the event.
After over two decades of the UNFCCC negotiations, sound analysis of Africa’s positions, strategies, successes and failures in the global climate change negotiations constitutes a critical tool for ensuring that the region’s needs and values are adequately reflected in a future agreement.
Experts in all areas of climate change, representatives of civil society groups, government ministries, regional economic institutions and even external entities working on climate change in Africa have all booked spaces to showcase knowledge products and engage current and prospective partners.
All in all, the Africa Pavilion will seek to highlight Africa’s climate change and development agenda emphasize the development focus in framing discussion and events at the COP21. Side events organized at the Pavilion will also seek to identify and prioritize strategies for a climate-safe African continent.
The Africa Pavilion at COP21 will also aim to continue to engage participants on the implications of climate change for Africa’s development, focusing on ways in which the post 2015 climate agenda will intersect with Africa’s development agenda, provide intellectual space for exploring challenges and opportunities for Africa, and for sharing research results on innovations and adaptation responses.
Drawing from the experience of the Africa Pavilion at COP17 in Durban South Africa (2011), the pavilion in Paris will be the hub of African events and a venue for informal networking of high-level policy makers from African Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) as well as the three principals of the ClimDev-Africa Initiative: the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa and the President of the Africa Development Bank.
The pavilion has conference rooms, ample space for side-event for multilateral/ bilateral organizations, scientists and researchers from international, regional and sub-regional climate centers; and practitioners, including representatives of the private sector.
Side events were selected following a call for proposals that was sent out by the ClimDev-Africa partners to African stakeholders and institutions that support African climate change issues. Lots of responses came from government agencies, research institutions, RECs, think tanks and CSOs.
The premier Africa Pavilion at COP17 was officially opened by three African leaders: President Jacob Zuma (South Africa), President Idriss Deby (Chad) and Vice-President Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos (Angola) who all emphasized the need for Africa’s collective voice to be heard throughout the Durban Conference. The COP21 Africa Pavilion is expected to have a similar high level opening, including the three principals of the ClimDev-Africa programme.
Issued by ClimDev-Africa News Service
