Events

MEDIA ADVISORY

Africa @ COP19/CMP9:
INVITATION TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA

WHAT: The 19th Conference of the Parties (COP19) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 9th Session of the Conference of Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (KP), COP19/CMP9.
WHEN: 11-22 November 2013
WHERE: National Stadium, Warsaw, Poland

WHO: African Union Commission (AUC); United Nations Economic Commission
for Africa (UNECA); and African Development Bank (AfDB); in collaboration
with UNFCCC and the Government of Poland.

Objective: The main objective is to support the African preparatory process towards COP19/CMP9 global negotiations to enhance Africa to speak with a strong voice on the African Common position on climate change.

Expected Outcomes of COP19/CMP9

The following outcomes are expected during the negotiation at COP19/CMP9 among others;

• To expedite action for the ratification of the Doha amendments to the Kyoto Protocol;
• Operationalization of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to benefit developing countries, especially Africa on adaptation and mitigation of the impacts of climate change;
• Delivery of sound decisions that would put the 20th session of the COP (COP 20) in Lima, Peru, on a solid foundation for the global negotiations towards the 2015 agreement expected at COP21 in Paris, France.

Africa side events at COP19/CMP9
- Africa Day on 19 November 2013, at the UNFCC side events Meeting room, @11:30 -13:00;
- Contribution of African meteorological institutions to climate-related risk reduction: Meteorology and use of Earth Observation (EO)- 13 Nov 2013,
- Great Green Wall for Sahara and Sahel Initiative (GGWSSI) – 20 Nov 2013 @ EU Pavilion, 13:00 – 14:30.

- The African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN) and Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), would also be meeting to enhance Africas perspective in the global negotiations.

Participants:

• Heads of State and Government
• High level personalities - Ministers
• Regional Economic Communities (RECs);
• Development Partners;
• Academia and Researches;
• Diplomatic Corps;
• International Government Organizations;
• Climate Change Experts;
• Non - Governmental Organizations (NGOs);
• Parliamentarians;
• Media institutions;
• Civil Society Organizations (CSO);

Background:

In 1992 the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) set an overall framework for intergovernmental efforts to address the issue of climate change. It was called a framework convention because it was seen as a starting point of addressing the problem of climate change. The convention entered in to force on March 21, 1994.

The ultimate objective of the convention is to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations at a level that will prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system.

By 1995, countries realized that emission reductions provisions in the Convention were inadequate. They launched negotiations to strengthen the global response to climate change, and, two years later, adopted the Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto Protocol legally binds developed countries to emission reduction targets. The Protocol’s first commitment period started in 2008 and ended in 2012. The second commitment period began on 1 January 2013 and will end in 2020.

There are now 195 Parties to the Convention and 192 Parties to the Kyoto Protocol. The UNFCCC secretariat supports all institutions involved in the international climate change negotiations, particularly the Conference of the Parties (COP), the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties (CMP), the Subsidiary Bodies (which advise the COP/CMP), and the COP/CMP Bureau (which deals mainly with procedural and organizational issues arising from the COP/CMP and also has technical functions).

In Durban, South Africa, at COP 17, Parties launched a new platform of negotiations under the Convention called the Durban Platform to deliver a new and universal greenhouse gas reduction protocol, legal instrument or other outcome with legal force by 2015 for the period beyond 2020. This new negotiation critically includes finding ways to further raise the existing level of national and international action and stated ambition to bring greenhouse gas emissions down.
At the 2012, the UN Climate Change Conference in Doha, Qatar (COP18/ CMP8), governments consolidated the gains of the last three years of international climate change negotiations and opened a gateway to necessary greater ambition and action on all levels. Among the many decisions taken, governments strenthened: their resolve and set out a timetable to adopt a universal climate agreement by 2015, which will come into effect in 2020.

Further information;

Ms. Olushola Olayide
Senior Policy Officer,
Environment and Water Resources and AUC focal person to the UNFCCC
African Union Commission
E-mail: OlusholaO@africa-union.org
Tel: +251-11-551-7700

Media Contact:
Mr. Molalet Tsedeke,
Directorate of Information and Communication,
African Union Commission
E-mail: molalett@africa-union.org; Molalet24t@yahoo.com;
Tel: +251-911-630-631
www.au.int/en

African Day for Food and Nutrition Security commemorated

Niamey-Niger, October 31st 2013 – African leaders have been urged to end hunger on the continent by making food, a right for all. The call was made during this year’s fourth commemoration of the African Day for Food and Nutrition Security (ADFNS), on October 30. The participants at the event deliberated on the key objective of sensitizing pertinent parties on the importance of a multidimensional approach to food and nutrition security.
The meeting also highlighted the importance and urgency in the need to institutionalize the right to food for all African citizens and to motivate political commitment and action to ensure the food and nutrition security of citizens.
In his opening remarks during the commemoration, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Niger, H.E Brigi Rafini, said the Government’s aim was, “to build resilience among the most vulnerable citizens against food insecurity."
“Africa feeding itself is not a farfetched dream. True it spells a mammoth task, but it is also within our reach to realize it.” said H.E. Mrs. Fatima Haram Acyl, AUC Commissioner for Trade and Industry, speaking on behalf of the AUC Deputy Chairperson, H.E. Erastus Mwencha, during the opening ceremony.
The commemoration of the ADFNS was preceded by a technical meeting in which modalities of the upcoming commemoration were discussed.
“Going forward, we will need to focus on preventative measures in reducing hunger and malnutrition instead of being reactionary,” agreed the panelists at the meeting.
After the opening ceremony, parallel sessions took place in which various Food and Nutrition Security related topics were discussed. While one session addressed initiatives such as The Cost of Hunger in Africa (COHA), Nigeriens Nourish Nigeriens (3N) and Scaling up Nutrition (SUN), REACH, etc., the other session focused on Nutrition for economic development. One of the decisions taken during the parallel sessions was the need to produce a Framework for Food and Nutrition Security that African countries can base their policies on.
“To achieve our objectives of eradicating hunger and malnutrition, nutrition actions and solutions will continue to require stronger alliances between all sectors: State actors, non-government organizations, industry, media, educators, local leadership and religious groups. Everyone has a role to play.” said NEPAD Agency Advisor for Food and Nutrition Security, Ms Boitshepo Giyose.
African leaders, agriculture and nutrition experts from the private and public sector attended the commemoration of this year’s Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security (ADFNS).
The event jointly hosted by the African Union Commission (AUC), NEPAD Agency Government of Niger and partners, was commemorated under the theme, “Toward an African Renaissance: Achieving the Right to Adequate Food and Nutrition”; in line with the 50th anniversary celebration of the formation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the Year of Pan-Africanism and the African Renaissance.
ADFNS, celebrated annually on the 30 of October, aims to create a platform in which concerned stakeholders can discuss solutions and make recommendations on food security issues in Africa. It is also a platform to strengthen the momentum towards achieving the Millennium Develop¬ment Goals (MDGs) and to assess what happens after the 2015 deadline.

AUC Staff and REC’s agree to enhance their capacity on Sustainable Development and Green Economy

Addis Ababa, 28 October 2013- Organized by the Cluster Environment, Population and Urbanization in the context of Regional Coordination Mechanism (RCM) for Africa, the African Union Commission (AUC); the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP); the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP); the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and International Labor Organization (ILO), held a two day brainstorming workshop from 24-25 October 2013, at the African Union Commission, in Addis Ababa. The aim of the workshop was to enhance the capacities of the AUC and REC’s in mainstreaming Sustainable Development and Green Economy into regional and Sub-regional policies, strategies and programs.

Participants at the workshop gathered from various AUC Departments, such as, Rural Economy and Agriculture, Social Affairs, Economic Affairs, Strategic Planning, Information and Communications as well as from Regional Economic Communities, namely Inter Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Southern African Development Community (SADC).

In his statement Dr. Khalil Timamy, Head of Division of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture, AUC expressed the benefit of this training in accordance to the importance of Sustainable Development and Green Economy initiative in Africa. The continent is taking stock of the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals, and is preparing for a common position on the post 2015 development agenda, he said.

He also emphasized the benefit of the Regional Coordination Mechanism in Africa. ‘ We are engaged on this cluster to enhance collaborative efforts from UN system in supporting African Union Commission, REC’s and NEPAD policies and strategies related to environment, population and urbanization’, he added.

During the two days training, participants exchanged views and ideas on specifics issues like:
- Tools for mainstreaming Sustainable Development into the regional and national planning process;
- Monitoring and Reporting on the implementation of Sustainable Development: the role of Regional and Sub regional institutions;
- Enabling conditions for promoting Green Economy in Africa;

Further Information:

Dr. Gilles Ogandaga Ndiaye,
Focal person, Cluster 4
Regional Coordination Mechanism for Africa
Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture,
African Union Commission
OgandagaG@africa-union.org

Achieving the Right to Adequate Food and Nutrition

Niamey-October 28, 2013 - In most of Africa, 54 million children under five years of age are suffering from chronic malnutrition.
African leaders, agriculture and nutrition experts from the private and public sector will mark this year’s Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security (ADFNS) on October 30 in Niamey, Niger, to tackle malnutrition and under-development on the continent.
The 4th ADFNS, jointly hosted by the African Union Commission (AUC), NEPAD Agency Government of Niger and partners, will be commemorated under the theme “Toward an African Renaissance: Achieving the Right to Adequate Food and Nutrition”; in line with the 50th anniversary celebration of the formation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the Year of Pan-Africanism and the African Renaissance.
ADFNS, celebrated annually on the 30 of October, aims to create a platform in which concerned stakeholders can discuss solutions and make recommendations on food security issues in Africa. It is also a platform to strengthen the momentum towards achieving the Millennium Develop¬ment Goals (MDGs) and to assess what happens after the 2015 deadline.
AUC Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, H.E Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, said “The African Union Commission accords special importance to this year’s ADFNS, as a prelude to 2014 the AU declared Year of Agriculture and Food and Nutrition Security and also marking the 10th anniversary of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).”
She further noted that the, “Day remains an opportunity for all AU Member States, Governments, stakeholders and partners to heighten our awareness of and reinforce our commitment to accelerating our collective efforts towards a food and nutrition secure, and poverty Africa.”
Mrs. Tumusiime said increasing agricultural production, productivity food and nutrition security, features highly on Africa Agenda 2063, which will be considered for adoption by AU Heads of State and Government at their Summit in January, 2014.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of the NEPAD Agency, Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, “Proven solutions for food and nutrition security challenges already exist and needed to be replicated ’’. For him, ‘’the era of pilots projects is long gone and it is now time to take actions. To that end, ‘’the private sector is a valuable partner in the fight against malnutrition whereas civil society remains our most important voice of conscience”.
The AUC delegation will be led by H.E. Mrs. Fatima Haram Acyl, Commissioner for Trade and Industry, who will be joined by high-level leaders from global, regional and national agriculture associations, African and other governments, civil society and farmer’s organizations, the private sector, scientific and research institutions, and development partners.
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For more information, please contact:
Ms. Carol Jilombo
AUC-CAADP Communications Officer
Jilomboc@africa-union.org
Gilles Eric Foadey
Public Communications Manager
erickf@nepad.org