Opening Statement

By

H.E. Amb. Josefa SACKO

Commissioner

 Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment

African Union Commission

at the

Launch of the Implementation Plan of the Integrated African Strategy on Meteorology (Weather, Water and Climate Services)

Cop29, Africa Pavillion

Baku, Azerbaijan

12 November 2024 (09:30 – 11:00 am)

• Hon. Sam Cheptoris, Minister of Water and Environment, Republic of Uganda, Chairperson of the African Ministerial Conference on Meteorology (AMCOMET)
• Hon. Mike Elton Mposha, Minister of Green Economy and Environment, Republic of Zambia, AMCOMET 1^st Vice Chair
• Prof. Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organisation
• Hon. Ministers present here

• Distinguished guests and participants
• Ladies and Gentlemen

It is a great honor and privilege to join you today for the official opening of the launch of the Implementation Plan of the Integrated African Strategy on Meteorology (Weather and Climate Services) at the Africa Pavilion. I extend warm greetings from H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, as I welcome you all.

I am particularly excited about launching the Implementation and Resource Mobilization Plan of the Meteorology Strategy, which is a strategic roadmap for critical actions on the development and application of meteorology for Africa’s social, economic, and ecological development. The Strategy further reflects the clear commitment of our highest political leadership to strengthen early warning systems and climate information services, as well as take early action to protect lives, livelihoods and assets and inform long-term decision-making related to climate change risks.

The implementation of the Strategy demonstrates the commitment of the African political leadership to the regional and global development frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS), among others.

The Implementation Plan helps to articulate practical actions to respond to the African Union’s Agenda 2063, while setting a trajectory for Africa to respond and align seamlessly with regional and global development frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, among others.

I am encouraged to note that the Implementation Plan also provides a clear Roadmap for translating the Integrated African Strategy on Meteorology Strategic Pillar into action and transforming the development and application of tailored weather, water and climate services for the social, economic and ecological development.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The African Union is steadfast in its commitment to supporting Member States, Regional Economic Communities, and various stakeholders in maximizing the continent’s potential to contribute meaningfully to climate change mitigation and adaptation endeavors. As we gather here today, I am heartened to see a diverse range of stakeholders, all united in their aim to support our National Meteorological and Hydrological Services. We must continue our efforts to enhance capacities for the production and delivery of tailored weather, water, climate, and early warning services through Initiatives that implement the Meteorology Strategy such as the Climate Services (ClimSA) Programme.

In this regard, and as the African Union Commission appreciates the support of the European Union in towards our member States’ capacity enhancement through the ClimSA Programme, I would like to appeal for the support of all other partners towards effective implementation of the Implementation Plan we are launching today. This is particularly so as the Integrated African Strategy on Meteorology (Weather and Climate Services), among others, calls upon us to "Invest in weather, water, climate, and early warning services is essential for sustainable development."

Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, may be aware that the 2023 State of Climate in Africa Report indicates that by 2030, up to 118 million extremely poor people (those living on less than $1.90/day) will be exposed to drought, floods, and extreme heat in Africa if adequate response measures are not implemented. As a consequence, this will place additional burdens on poverty alleviation efforts and significantly hamper growth. While the adoption of the Integrated African Strategy on Meteorology (Weather and Climate Services) by the African Union Heads of State Government provides strategic guidance and coordinated action on meteorology, climate action, and resilience building, we need to implement it effectively. Hence the Implementation Plan.

As we launch this Plan today, I would like to encourage all of us to build on it through various implementation efforts. There is an urgent need for us to adapt to minimize massive losses and prevent the reversal of developmental gains achieved so far.

Finally, I wish to commend the efforts of the AMCOMET Secretariat and the World Meteorological Organisation for the support towards elaboration of the Plan we are launching today.

I Thank you for your kind attention.