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.