Welcome Remarks by H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission
at the Meeting of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), New York, USA

Office of the Permanent Observer Mission of the African Union to the United Nations, 305 East 47th Street, 5th Floor, New York, USA

24 September 2013

Your Excellency, Jakaya Mrisho Kwikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania and Coordinator of CAHOSCC
Your Excellency, Ato Haile-Mariam Dessalegn, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Chairperson of the African Union
Excellences, Members of CAHOSCC
Members of the Diplomatic Corp
Distinguished Delegates
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am pleased to welcome You Excellences to the meeting of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) convening here in New York at the AU Office of the Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations.

I would like to convey the AU Commission’s tribute for all the efforts of the late Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi, who was the former CAHOSCC Coordinator, in supporting the interests of Africa on climate change. Our gratitude extends to H.E Prime Minister Haile-Mariam Dessalegn for successfully steering the transition.

Excellences,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I wish to refer to the Kampala July 2010 AU Summit decision, which endorsed the recommendations of CAHOSCC on the streamlined single negotiation structure at the Ministerial and Experts’ levels, with a view to ensure African effective coordination of the negotiation on climate change of the UNFCCC and for Africa to speak with one voice.

By convening our meeting here today, CAHOSCC moreover is implementing another decision taken by the 20th AU Ordinary Session held in January 2013 in Addis Ababa, on the coordination of CAHOSCC and Africa’s preparation for COP 19 of the UNFCCC due in Warsaw, Poland, in November 2013.

Given the seriousness of the climate change challenges, developed countries that are historically responsible for this dangerous externality should provide compensation for the damage to Africa caused by global warming. This is particularly, given the fact that despite contributing virtually nothing to global warming, Africa has been one of the primary victims of its consequences as the most vulnerable continent. The AU Assembly, therefore, decided that Africa should be represented by one delegation, which is empowered to negotiate on behalf of all Member States, with the mandate to ensure that the resource flow to Africa is not reduced.

Excellences,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my sincere hope that the efforts of today’s session will boost Africa’s demand for significantly scaled up financial resources to address climate change impacts. In particular, I call upon the developed countries to honor their financial commitments to Africa.

In addition to enhancing the flow of financial resources to Africa, developed countries must also double their efforts to address the root cause of the problem. They must urgently commit themselves to reduce carbon emissions in line with the Scientific Assessment Report of the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Irrespective of whether advanced developing countries agree to emissions reductions that are binding, developed countries must take the lead and agree to ambitious emission cuts. The action of developed countries to cut emissions must therefore be in line with increase of engagement on their part to support Africa’s programs on mitigation and adaptation.

I am sure that Africa’s Common Position on climate change and negotiations strategies will be updated, consolidated, and championed by CAHOSCC and all Africa’s technical negotiators, under the political leadership of H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kwikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania and, the current CAHOSCC Coordinator.

Excellences,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

The African Union attaches considerable importance to the issue of climate change because its impacts threaten to undo Africa’s development efforts. I would like therefore to assure Your Excellences of the commitment of the AU Commission to support the African Group in the global climate change negotiations with a view to realize a successful deal for Africa at COP 19 in Warsaw, Poland in November 2013, as we move towards COP 21 in Paris, France.

I thank you all for your kind attention, and also wish you fruitful deliberations!