South Africa approves climate change adaptation strategy

 

Barbara Creecy, Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, South Africa

The South African cabinet has approved the National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (NCCAS) which supports the country's ability to meet its obligations in terms of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, a cabinet minister said on Tuesday.

"This strategy defines the country's vulnerabilities, plans to reduce those vulnerabilities and leverage opportunities, outlines the required resources for such action, whilst demonstrating progress on climate change adaptation," said Barbara Creecy, Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries.

Developed in consultation with all relevant stakeholders, the strategy aims to reduce the vulnerability of society, the economy and the environment to the effects of climate change, according to Creecy.

The NCCAS outlines a set of objectives, interventions and outcomes to enable the country to give expression to its commitment to the Paris Agreement, and gives effect to the National Development Plan's vision of creating a low-carbon, climate resilient economy and a just society.

The 2015 Paris Agreement elevates the importance of climate change adaptation through the establishment of a global goal on adaptation of enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change.

Tony Elumelu Hosts European Commission, Leading Development Finance Institutions and Think Tanks in Brussels

Tony Elumelu, CON engaging the distinguished audience at the convening on Africa’s economic transformation

At a time when Europe’s relationship with Africa is high on foreign policy and developmental agendas and with the European Union beginning to deliver on its 2017 External Investment Plan, targeted at attracting investment and job creation in Africa, the Tony Elumelu Foundation brought together leading stakeholders in the development finance sector, at a case study session in the EU capital, Belgium.

The convening demonstrated that Africa also had solutions to bring to the table and platformed the Foundation’s unique approach to catalysing entrepreneurship in scale across the continent.

Themed “A Convening on Africa’s Economic Transformation: A Case Study of the Tony Elumelu Foundation”, the event presented the results of the first five years of the Foundation’s Entrepreneurship Programme a unique programme, which has trained, mentored and seeded 4,470 African entrepreneurs with 3,050 newly announced to receive seed funding, and drawn over 200,000 applications to its 2019 cycle. 

Tony Elumelu’s $100m investment in entrepreneurial philanthropy was held up as an example of how vital capital could be targeted efficiently and effectively, at African businesses best able to create significant economic and developmental impact.

Kogi to deploy Agric Extension Workers to Farms

Kogi Agricultural Development Project (ADP) says agricultural extension workers will soon be deployed to rural communities across the state to assist farmers with extension services to boost their productivity.

Mr James Ogunmola, General Manager of the ADP, said this at a meeting of Core Delivery Team (CDT) of the State Partnership for Agriculture (SPA) in Lokoja on Wednesday.

The meeting was organised by Synergos Nigeria, with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).

Ogunmola said that the extension workers, who were recently trained, were primed for deployment to various communities to assist the farmers.

Les enfants africains sensibilisent le monde sur les effets du climat

Par Hubert Didier Madafime

« We, the children of Africa » (Nous,  ) est un appel qui va résonner dans le ciel africain en juin 2015, lors du sommet  de l’Union africaine. Le même écho sera entendu à Paris six mois plus tard, au cours des négociations sur le climat. Il s’agit bien d’une manière spéciale pour les enfants du continent africain d’interpeller les décideurs, à travers le monde, sur les dangers imminents et presque irréversibles que les changements climatiques font peser sur leurs conditions de vie. C’est un concept développé par  l’ANEJ, African Network Environmental Journalist, le Réseau Africain des Journalistes pour l’Environnement qui entend ainsi attirer l’attention de la planète pour un meilleur accord à la COP 21.  

54 enfants de 12 à 15 ans, garçons et filles, habillé chacun dans sa tenue nationale, représentant les  54  pays  d’Afrique,  viendront  délivrer  devant  les  Chefs  d’Etats  Africains  début  juin  2015  en Afrique  du Sud, au cours du sommet ordinaire de l’Union africaine, un discours-message destiné à la COP 21 de Paris.  Identifiés  parmi  les  enfants  des  réfugiés  climatiques  et  de  peuples  indigènes,  les enfants viendraient de contrées particulièrement affectées par les changements climatiques. Par exemple les enfants Touaregs des régions désertiques ou les jeunes Fulanis de la RCA ou du Nord Nigeria (filles victimes entres autres de Boko Haram) ou encore les jeunes filles de Somalie, des tribus de pêcheurs du Golfe d’Aden. Sans oublier bien sûr les enfants des zones forestières du Bassin du Congo.

Tackling the “Perfect Storm” in Africa for a Sustainable and Resilient Future

By Sidi Moctar El-Cheiguer

Source: Tackling the “Perfect Storm” in Africa for a sustainable and resilient future | Climate Reporters

By Sidi Moctar El-Cheiguer

Source: Tackling the “Perfect Storm” in Africa for a sustainable and resilient future | Climate Reporters

Naoko Ishii, GEF CEO

By Sidi Moctar El-Cheiguer

Last week in Cairo, African Environment Ministers convened to discuss African’s Climate Change Challenge. On March 6 they agreed on a final declaration officially called “Cairo Declaration on Managing Africa’s Natural Capital for Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication.” Recognizing the nexus between land productivity, food security and poverty eradication in Africa, they agreed to increase productivity in the use of natural resources in enhancing economic and social benefits for poverty reduction, job creation and sustainable development.  

The GEF CEO Naoko Ishii joined this high level meeting to present the GEF’s Integrated Approach Pilot program on Fostering Sustainability and Resilience for Food Security in Sub Saharan Africa. With a growing population that will demand major increases in food production, the African continent is faced with increasing pressure on already fragile and stressed lands, and increase vulnerability of millions of smallholder farmers. 

“In a sense Africa is facing a perfect storm with food deficit, climate change impacts and rapid population growth”, Ishii said. “The key is to help small holders manage their natural capital in a sustainable manner—the land, soil, water, vegetation and genetic resources that are vital for continued and increased agricultural productivity.”  

West Africa's 1st online newspaper on climate change launched

By Theophilus Ikpome

West Africa's first online newspaper dedicated to opening new vistas in the coverage and reportage of climate change and the region's environment has been launched. The online newspaper (www.climatereporters.com), which was launched over the weekend In Republic of Benin, Cote d'Ívoire and Nigeria simultaneously in commemoration of the 2015 International Francophonie Day envisions an informed, environment-friendly and climate-conscious citizenry living in a safe and serene West African environment, free from climate disasters and environmental despoliation.

Speaking at the launch, the medium's Editor-in-Chief, Atâyi Babs revealed that the newspaper is "dedicated to bringing fresh, crisp and engaging climate reports from all over the world to West Africa, using the region's finest blend of climate story tellers to enhance understanding and engender climate action across the region." 

"We are change catalysts, bringing international climate reports to every doorstep in West Africa at the same time taking the West African climate story to the world,"Atayi added. 

1,000 Africans shortlisted for Tony Elumelu entrepreneuship programme

By John Agbala

The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) is pleased to announce the selection of the first 1,000 African entrepreneurs for the Tony Elumelu  Entrepreneurship Programme (TEEP).  TEEP is a $100 million initiative to discover and support 10,000 African entrepreneurs over the next decade, with a target of creating one million new jobs and $10 billion in additional revenues in the process.

Over 20,000 African entrepreneurs from 52 countries applied to the programme, representing the creativity and potential on display across the continent.  The initial 1,000 selected for the 2015 class are a remarkable group of entrepreneurs who are a testament to the ability of Africa’s own entrepreneurs to drive Africa’s growth and development.

Speaking on the desired impact of the programme, Founder, Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, CON, commented: “The selection of these 1000 entrepreneurs brings us closer to our ultimate goal - to drive Africa’s economic and social transformation from within and to radically intensify job creation in Africa.  Though I have never met or spoken to any of the winners, I am confident that due to the rigorous criteria and selection process, these entrepreneurs are Africa’s hope for the future.  I will continue to invest my experience, time, influence, and resources to see them succeed.  I am embarking on this journey with these entrepreneurs hopeful and inspired.”

Africa needs $1 trillion for climate action, CSOs insist

Augustine Njamshi

 

By Arison TAMFU

 

The African Civil Society under the auspices of Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, bringing together diverse groups from the youth, Indigenous Peoples, farmers, faiths, NGOs and networks has told the African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN) that climate change negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) have so far delivered no concrete results as growing impacts  of climate change continue to stand in the way of African development aspirations.

 

`The last two decades have been characterised by unfulfilled promises and commitments by developed countries but still we feel that the multilateral process under UNFCCC is the only sure way to deliver fairness and justice for poor countries and communities` a statement by PACJA said. The statement was read by Augustine Njamnshi, member of PACJA before AMCEN conference in Egypt.

 

Stakeholders outline expectations ahead of AMCEN

Dignitaries at the Stakeholders meeting

By Arison TAMFU in Cairo, Egypt

Stakes are high for the African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN) that begins tomorrow March 2 in Egyptian capital, Cairo. AMCEN and African Civil society Group expect that the conference will define a concrete blueprint that will guide the continent to discussions on the Sustainable development Goals to be concluded in New York and Paris climate change conference that is likely to agree on a new climate change agreement, which will come into effect by 2020.

"We want to crystalize a strong position when it comes to climate change and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We want to link environment with economy. We want to work on poverty eradication and job creation for our young population" said Dr. Khaled Mohamed Fahmy Abdel Aal, Egyptian Minister of Environment. The minister was speaking Sunday March 1 at a pre-AMCEN major group and stakeholders` forum.

Africa demands climate treaty ratification at Lima talks

Nagmeldin G. Elhassan, AGN Chair

The African group of negotiators on Climate Change has urged developed countries to ratify an extension of the second phase of Kyoto Protocol. They say the developed nations must show leadership in tackling climate change effects by ratifying the binding treaty.

Nagmeldin G. Elhassan, the Chair of the African Negotiating Group says ratifying the second commitment period is the only way Africa and developing nations can take the developed countries seriously on commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Le groupe Africain réclame plus d'action

Elhassan et Xolisa

Par Diane NININAHAZWE, Lima

 Le groupe Africain jure que la 20eme conférence des nations unies sur les changements climatique qui se tienne à Lima  doit  enregistrer un énorme succès coute que coute.

Ce groupe estime que tous les efforts du moment et des gouvernements devraient être engagés pour lever le défi de la question des changements climatiques.

"La science, notre peuple, le continent, les nations unies nous interpellent pour passer à l'action afin de faire face au grand défis  mondial du  climat et réduire les CO2.L'adaptation figure aussi parmi nos priorités " Rassure le président du groupe Africain Nagmeldin El Hassan.

El Hassan en outre fait allusion sur la priorité du groupe sur les deux principaux objectifs de la Conférence de Lima: privilégier toutes actions visant à  la protection dans la période pré-2020, et négocier un nouveau agenda à mettre en application d'ici 2020.

Climate Finance is flowing, but it isn’t enough - Figueres

by Wambi Michael

Climate financing across the globe has hit record high to about $650 billion dollars in the last two years but the UN Climate chief, Christiana Figureres says it is not enough to meet the growing financial needs to tackle global warming.   

A new financial assessment report presented to at the UN Climate Change Conference in Lima, Peru puts  the lower range of global total climate flows at $340 billion a year for the period between 2011-2012. 

The assessment compiled the UNFCCC standing committee on finance is the first to put together information and data on financial flows supporting emission reductions and adaptation within the countries and through international support.

Civil Society demands shift in private sector investment at Lima talks

Rev Tholbert Jallah Jnr

By Kofi A Domfeh, PAMACC Team, Lima

Solving the problem of global climate change is impossible without huge shift in private sector investments, since this sector represents trillions of dollars with vast majority of economic activities around the world.

 

This is the view of Civil Society in contributing to a discussion at the ongoing climate change talks in Lima, Peru.

 

According to Dr. Tholbert Jallah of the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), what is needed most is policy changes and regulations particularly in developed countries "to shift private investments from brown to green".

 

"National governments could do far more to shift incentives so that trillions of dollars of private investments will flow to sustainable climate-friendly activities," he said.

 

Africa to "name and shame" at Lima climate change talks

In South American country, Peru where delegates around the globe are meeting to negotiate a new blueprint for the world to follow in order to combat climate change, African civil society is categorical on its prime goal.

"We are here to name and shame and also to remind the world that the needs of the African people must be met. Lima should deliver a text that most be agreed on in Paris" declared Samson Ogalla of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), a continental coalition of Civil Society Organizations defending the position of Africa in climate change talks.

"Here in Lima, the call to action on world leaders, delegates, governments, negotiators across the divide have to be louder by Civil Society Organisations. To this course, PACJA remains committed" added Mithika Mwenda, Secretary General of PACJA

"For us, it`s a matter of life. If we miss this one we are finished. Climate is much more serious than has been predicted" said Robert Chimambo of Zambia Climate Change. All of them made their declaration in Lima on the eve of the UN climate change conference to run from 1-12 Dec. 2014. 

African Civil Society Groups Race To Make The Most From COP20

African Civil Society groups at the ongoing United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change are racing to make the most of this year's conference of parties (COP20).

The groups attending the annual conference now underway in Peru's capital Lima want to see additional commitment from the developed countries in providing US$ 100 Billion by the year 2020 among other crucial objectives.

"With fresh momentum and better organization, the conference should provide us better opportunity to push the developed countries to honour and deliver on its commitment. The industrialized countries must scale up their Commitments to fulfilling their obligation to providing adequate, new and additional funds as this amount is far from all estimates of climate finance needed by developing countries", Samuel Samson Ogallah of the African Civil Society Umbrella group, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) told a pre-COP consultative meeting in Peru November 30th. 

African fish industry in peril as global warming intensifies

By Arison TAMFU

 

Peru, Lima, and Dec. 2: Ana Faustor, a middle-aged Peruvian lady takes a passionate bite

at a grilled fish as she follows proceedings at the UN Climate change talks in Lima just outside the hall where deliberations are taking place. Inside the hall, officials reflect on how dangerous climate change has become to mankind and insist that the time to act is now but Ana`s thoughts are buried in nostalgia of the days of abundant fish and how she used to go fishing with her father in Chimbote, in the north of South American country, Peru.

 

“Things have changed now. Fishing is becoming difficult and fishes are disappearing” she says regretting how good fish is becoming rare in Peru, a country that holds second place in the worldwide production of aquatic species. As the UN Climate change conference opens this Dec. 1 in Peru, Ana hopes for an outcome that will mitigate the impacts of climate change across the globe.

 

“That is why I am attending the conference. Things are getting out of hand. We do know what to do” she laments. Millions of miles across the Ocean in Limbe, a town in West African country, Cameroon, Enoh Joseph shares her sentiments.

 

COP 20: We must prepare to count the cost Of delay - IPCC

Rajendra Pachauri, IPCC Chair

“The window of opportunity to act on climate change is soon closing. Science offers clear rationale for climate action now” says Dr. Rajendra Kumar Pachauri the chairperson of the  Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) during the opening ceremony of the twentieth Conference of Parties, also known as COP20 in Lima, the capital of Peru this morning.

 

According to Rajendra, any further delay will make response to Climate Change too late and too expensive for humanity. He stressed that nearly a quadrupling of low-carbon energy is required by 2050, to address the impact of Climate Change. So, what do we really need to reverse the rising warming of the globe observed in 2014, the hottest year according to IPCC?

 

Act now. Act with urgency. Failure will condemn developing countries and the extremely poor African peasant farmers to another unchecked generation of suffering extreme weather, frequent floods, droughts and crop failures. Already, little actions taken after COP19 has been greeted with widespread deaths brought about by typhoons and increasing floods on the African continent. According to Oxfam International, 6,000 people were killed and another 4.1 million displaced.

 

COP 20: Opening Ceremony in Pictures

Nagmeldin G Elhassan, Chair of the African Group of Negotiators 

COP 20 President & Peruvian Environment Minister: Manuel Pulgar-Vidal

Rajendra K Pachauri, IPCC Chair

Africa eyes comprehensive 2015 draft as Lima climate talks begin

African civil society at COP 20 Lima

The United Nations Climate Conference opening today in Lima, Peru carries the prospects of putting the world on the pathway to a comprehensive climate agreement in 2015, experts say. 

Amidst cautious optimism, African civil society groups under the umbrella of the Pan-African Climate Justice (PACJA) have called for a draft text to be adopted in Paris next year that will commit countries to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. Speaking at the Pre-UNFCCC COP 20 Consultative Consultative workshop in Lima, Sam Ogallah stated that PACJA’s strength is embedded on the preparedness of the African civil society at all levels to ensure that the New Climate Change Agreement to be concluded in Paris in 2015 is responsive to African aspirations and realities.

Robert Chimambo added that Africa expects nothing short of a comprehensive draft agreement for 2015 in Lima as the stakes are already high with Africa being at the receiving end of the disastrous consequences of climate change. The UN environment programme warned earlier this month that industrialised countries were falling short of the emissions reductions needed to prevent warming of 2C above pre-industrial levels, the goal set by world leaders. Carbon dioxide emissions are expected to reach a record high of 40bn tonnes in 2014. Meanwhile, 2014 is shaping up to be the hottest on record.

PRE-COP 20: African civil society consultative workshop, Lima in pictures