AUC and IPCC tackle Climate Change in Africa

Addis Ababa- July 2, 2013-The African Union’s Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, H.E Mrs. Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, today received Dr. Rajendra K. Pachuri, Chairperson of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), to discuss policies, developments and prospects in the context of Climate Change (CC) in Africa.
In her welcome remarks, Mrs. Tumusiime commended the IPCC for the scientific research and information dissemination that is beneficial to AU Member States and others around the globe as they pursue adaptation and mitigation efforts.
She highlighted the critical importance of enhanced measures by AU Member States to use the information generated by the IPCC in formulating comprehensive policies and programmes on adaptation and mitigation in order to tackle CC effectively.
“The information generated from IPCC is cardinal as it shows the impact climate change has had and is likely to have on countries; and it will inform them on what policy direction to take,” she said.
Mrs. Tumusiime further informed Dr. Pachuri that the AUC had prioritised the issue of climate change and in that regard had put in place a unified multi-layered institutional structure (CAHOSCC, AMCEN and AGN) for coordinating climate change issues including global negotiations.
She added that the AU had further formulated a Climate Change Strategy, which addresses cardinal matters like adaption and mitigation, especially in the hardest hit countries in Africa.
Dr. Pachuri, in his remarks, noted that going by current global trends, he could foresee many countries taking more interest and bold actions against climate change.
He informed Commissioner Tumusiime that the Fifth IPCC assessment report was being finalised and would be available for AU Member States and other countries to use to that end.
Dr. Pachuri also outlined the areas of focus of the IPCC which are pertinent to climate change, environment and energy among others. He further indicated areas where IPCC was supporting the advancement of South-South Cooperation in this respect.

For further information contact:
Ms. Olushola Olayide
Senior Policy Officer –Environment and Natural Resources
OlusholaO@africa-union.org
Ms. Carol Jilombo
CAADP Communications Officer
Jilomboc@africa-union.org