Africa identifies with Philippines over Typhoon Hagupit

by Atayi Babs, Lima

Over one hundred delegates from countries around the world including leading representatives of the African civil society under the aegis of the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) stood together for two minutes of silence to show solidarity with the people of the Philippines who are suffering under the lash of Typhoon Hagupit. 

The latest reports say at least 21 people have been killed by floodwaters caused by the storm, that is continuing its painfully slow path towards the capital Manilla - 1 million people have been evacuated from their homes.

At the UN conference centre in Lima civil society representatives called on Ministers arriving today and tomorrow at the climate negotiations to make progress towards a mechanism that effectively addresses loss and damage from climate impacts. Climate change is causing an increase in extreme rainfall and sea level rise is making the storm surges more deadly. Vulnerable countries like the Philippines are already counting the cost, last year Typhoon Haiyan left more than 7,000 dead or missing.

"We stand in solidarity with the Philipines today because we are one," Robert Chimambo of the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) declared. "Africa is in the same vulnerable boat with Philippines and that is why we are calling on those with historical responsibility and capacity to act now or we sink together in this titanic" Chimambo added.

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.

Renewable energy will create more jobs - WWEA

Heinz Kopetz (left) and Prof. Dr. Tanay Sidki at Lima Climate talks

By Arison TAMFU, LIMA

The World Wind Energy Association (WWEA) has said renewable energy will not only mitigate the impacts of climate change but also create jobs substantially.

`If you promote renewable energy in your region, you be able to avoid spending a lot of money on energy. One economic benefit is new jobs and higher income` said Heinz Kopetz, member of WWEA who doubles as the President of World Bioenergy Association.

`Six point five million people around the world now have jobs from renewable energy. For this moment alone. Renewable energy will make the economy better and more stable. Everything is positive. Businesses will make money. It,s not like natural gas. It's everywhere. They water is here, the sun is here free of charge` said Prof. Dr. Tanay Sidik UYAR of WWEA.

Both men were speaking on the sidelines of the United Nations climate change conference taking place in Lima, Peru.

Renewable energy partnership critical for African farmers

by Kofi Adu Domfeh

African civil society at the climate talks in Lima, Peru, has identified renewable energy as key to stop deforestation and reduce poverty on the continent.

They therefore support the proposed Global Renewable Energy Partnership put forward by the African Group of Negotiators (AGN).

The proposal falls in line with the UN Secretary-General's sustainable energy for all initiative, launched in 2011.

"Our people do produce food but there is no value addition in the last 100years, so what we now need is to introduce energy so that at the smallholder farm level our people can add value to the products they produce," said Robert Chimambo of Zambia Climate change Network.

He believes access to renewable energy would be critical to enable smallholder farmers add value at the farm-level for higher income earnings.

Lima talks: We must prepare to count the cost of delay - IPCC

Rajendra Pachauri, IPCC Chair

by Peter Labeja, Lima

"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.

 

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.