President Kikwete at COP 19: The situation is tough and challenging

Warsaw, Poland- 21 November 2013 – “It is not easy, it is tough and challenging, but we are tough enough to be able to succeed, said President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, the president of the United Republic of Tanzania, in his address to the African Group of Ministers and Negotiators at the ongoing Global Climate Change Negotiation (COP19) meeting, held on Thursday, 21 November 2013, in Warsaw, Poland.

Speaking, in his capacity as the Coordinator of the Committee of African Heads of State and Governments on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), President Kikwete, stressed that the situation is so bad in terms of climate change, calling the national and international communities for urgent actions. He expressed his satisfaction regarding the African position. We speak with one voice; we should remain with one voice, said president Kikwete.

The current coordinator thanked AMCEN and the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) for the front line role in the negotiation and encouraged them to maintain unity of purpose and continue to speak with one voice around the African common position. President Kikwete also said that this approach would enable Africa to overcome difficulties in the negotiation towards the future we want.

He had an interactive discussion during the meeting with the African ministers who commended his able leadership and reaffirmed their commitment to championing Africa’s interest at COP19.

Speaking at the meeting, Commissioner Rhoda Peace Tumusiime, AU Commissioner for Rural Development and Agriculture reiterated the full commitment of the African Union Commission, which remains at the service of the AU Member States. It is gratifying that the African leadership has placed issues of the climate change high on the political agenda, said Commissioner Rhoda. The AU Member States are taking country level action to deal with climate change issues while remaining engaged in global climate change negotiations, she added.

During the meeting Dr. Terezya L. Huvisa, Tanzanian Minister of State for Environment, and current President of African Ministerial Conference on the African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN) has handover Africa’s Adaptation Gap Technical Report to President Kikwete. The report is a stark analysis of where Africa Stands in relation to its adaptation goals and is a cautionary indicator of what may happen should the emission gap remain necessitating additional adaptation.

For media inquiries and furthur information:
Mr. Molalet Tsedeke
Directorate of Information and Communication
AU Commission
molalett@africa-union.org; molalet24t@yahoo.com
Tel: 51 7665 081