Statement of the Chairperson of the AU Commission H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma on the occasion of the Launch of the African Pavilion at COP21

Le Bourget, Paris, France

1 December 2015,

 
Your Excellency, Mr. Yayi Boni, President of Benin Excellencies, Presidents, Leaders of Delegations and Ministers.
Dr. Carlos Lopes, Executive Secretary of the UNECA
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank
AU Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, Mrs Tumusiime Rhoda Peace
Representatives from governments, UN agencies, civil society, business
Esteemed Ladies and Gentlemen

A warm welcome to this official opening of the African Pavilion at COP21.
Let me take this opportunity to thank our gracious host, President Francois Hollande and the people and government of France for the excellent organisation of this important global event, despite the tragedy that you are still coming to terms with. We specifically want to express our gratitude to you, for making this African Pavilion possible.
On behalf of the African Union Commission, I also thank Excellency President El-Sisi for the leadership that he provides as Chairperson of CAHOSCC to the continued African efforts on Climate Change.
Our appreciation also goes to the UN Economic Commission for Africa, the African Development Bank and the NEPAD Planning and Coordination Agency (NPCA), who co-organised this African Pavilion with us, and to the many other organisations and partners who have and are working with us to help tackle this threat.
In addition to the leaders and officials from African countries that are hard at work in the formal sessions of the COP21, the African Pavilion will host over 100 events over the coming days, to raise awareness not only about the challenges we face, but on what we do about it as a continent, and our proposals on what humanity as a whole should do to tackle this problem for all species on our planet. It was a problem after-all, as the scientists inform us, that is created by humanity. It can therefore be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings, as we’ve shown we can when we took measures to reverse the depletion of our ozone layer.
The events over these days will focus on Africa’s path over the years in climate change negotiations, on renewable energy as a key part of our developmental path in Agenda 2063, about climate smart agriculture, about building resilience through initiatives such as the Great Green Wall for the Sahara and Sahel Initiative, what to do about the fast shrinking water resources of Lake Chad and River Niger, and about innovative continental initiatives to deal with risks such as the Africa Risk Capacity, to mention but a few. I invite you all to participate in these events, share experiences and learn from each other.

Excellencies
Africa’s message for this Summit is clear: we need a legally binding agreement within a global governance framework, applicable to all parties that covers the issues of adaptation, mitigation, financing as well as technology development and transfer; we must commit to reduction of greenhouse emissions to achieve the adaptation goal of well below 2 degree Celsius, and we must ensure the principle of common but differentiated responsibility, social justice and equity.
According to the second Africa Adaptation Gap Report, due to past global emissions, Africa is already facing adaptation costs of US$7-15 billion per year by 2020 even though its contribution to the greenhouse gas emission was estimated to be less than 4%. By 2050, Africa's adaptation costs could rise to US$50 billion per year if global warming were to remain below 2° C and up to US$100 billion per year by 2050 for scenarios associated with the global temperature rise of more than 4°C by 2100.
As Africa, we have therefore taken it upon ourselves to define our development path for the next 50 years, Agenda 2063: The Africa we Want as a sustainable and low carbon path.
Through our Committee of Heads of State and Government on Climate Change, and the joint initiative of the AU Commission, the UNECA, the African Development Bank, and NPCA as mandated by the Africa Union Summit Decision, we bring together African countries, Regional Economic Communities, civil society and the private sector, around a comprehensive programme that constitutes Africa’s responses to climate change.
We have committed ourselves to ensure that renewable energy forms a key part of our continental energy mix, as we address the huge energy infrastructure gap in Africa. African countries from Egypt to South Africa, from Kenya to Senegal, in Central, West, East and Southern Africa are investing public resources and attracting intra-African and foreign investments, as well as overseas development finance in renewable energy projects: geothermal, solar, wind and hydro. Together with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), we’ve launched the African Clean Energy Corridor, encompassing over 26 countries down the east coast of the continent.
As we transform our agriculture, to modernise it and increase its productivity, so that we can feed Africa as well as the world, we are paying specific attention to water to implement the African Water Vision 2025, and land management, so that our agricultural revolution remains green and we protect and grow the livelihoods of Africa’s millions of small holder farmers, especially women.
And, since our tropical forests form the second lung of the world, we are very aware about our responsibility to humanity to ensure effective and sustainable forest management and reversing and discouraging deforestation.
African island states face particular challenges, as sea levels rise, making them vulnerable not only to disasters, but threatening their very existence.
As a continent, we have also developed the innovative instrument to mitigate and ensure against disaster, in the form of the African Risk Capacity.
Through Agenda 2063 we want to ensure not only that we mitigate for and adapt to climate change, but also do so in a manner that build African capacities, research, institutions and most importantly - whether it is in agriculture and agro-processing or in renewable energy - to ensure that these initiatives contribution towards manufacturing on the continent, creating the much needed livelihoods and jobs for our young people.
To reach these objectives and implement these programmes, Africa needs a skills revolution, investing in its young men and women, training them, so that they can use their energy and creativity to innovate, produce and drive our development agendas.
I seize this opportunity to appreciate the partners that have contributed to have this beautiful edifice and I recognize among other the Governments of France, Benin, Norway; the ClimDev-Africa Programme; Sahel Initiative OSS, our joint organizers – AfDB, UNECA, NPCA, all Partners and others such as the Preparatory Committee and everyone that have contributed in one way or the other to make this laudable facility for Africa in Paris. I say Merci beaucoup to you all.
In conclusion, Africa is determined that through this COP21 we must all commit to make the difference.
We therefore vow to work with all gathered here today to raise our voices in defence of our planet, in defence of current and future generations, and to continue to work together on all these initiatives, to build a better Africa and a better world.
Welcome to the African Pavilion and feel at home.