Statement by

H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat

Chairperson

African Union Commission

on the Occasion of

The Meeting of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC)

On the margins of the UN General Assembly

21 September 2023

11h00 to 12h00

African Union Permanent Observer Mission to the UN

H.E. Dr William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Coordinator of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC).

Excellencies, Members of CAHOSCC

Honourable Ministers

Excellencies Ambassadors

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

Excellences, allow me to thank you for honoring the invitation to join the meeting of the Committee of African Heads of States and Government on Climate Change. Your presence here is a true attestation to the high priority you accord to the issues of climate change as they are of existential nature.  

The political leadership and strategic guidance provided by CAHOSCC on the continent’s engagement on climate change has gained us respect and recognition, strengthened advocacy and the African Voice in the never ending negotiations.

Excellences, As the most affected continent by the impacts of climate change, Africa remains strongly committed to the global fight against climate change. It is in this regard, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to H.E Dr. William Samoei Ruto for his continued engagement and commitment to championing Africa’s Climate Agenda. Key milestones have been reached, including the convening of our first ever African Climate Summit.

The Africa Climate Summit attracted interest from across the world, but most importantly, it positioned Africa as a key player in the global climate change arena. It culminated into the African Leaders Nairobi Declaration on Climate Change and Call to Action, which has been applauded by all conceivable local and global stakeholders.

Excellences, the Commission has embarked on the development of a framework to support the implementation of the African Leaders Nairobi Declaration on Climate Change and Call to Action. A brief summary will be presented today for the kind guidance of your esteemed Committee. We remain committed to continue working with AU member States and partners to support its implementation.

Excellencies you will agree with me that there is strong need to maintain the momentum and spirit towards CoP28. We look forward to a CoP that will deliver ambitious, balanced, fair and just outcomes that will address issues of adaptation, loss and damage, finance and mitigation. To achieve some of these actions, we reiterate our call to the global community to act with urgency in reducing emissions, fulfilling their obligations, honoring past pledges, to support the continent in addressing climate change.

Excellencies as you are all aware the African Union was granted membership in the G20. This is an important milestone that acknowledges the continent as a formidable global power. We need, as a Union, to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the opportunities in the engagement in the G20. We need to do this, taking into consideration the region’s development finance that we can leverage on to address the climate crisis ravaging our countries. I will be sharing a brief on the implications of the AU’s membership in the G20 later this morning for the consideration of the committee

Excellencies, as I conclude, I would like to assure you that climate change is a priority for our continent and the world. It is for this reason that at the AU Commission, I have embarked on strengthening the Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction portfolios. To this end, we have established the Climate Finance Unit and continue to recruit more staff in this area. We are also hard at work to mobilise resources to support member states and we have started developing multi-country programmes for climate change too.

Let me thank the CAHOSSC Committee members once again for the active engagement and commitment in providing the necessary guidance and leadership on Africa’s climate agenda.

I would also like to appeal to all Africans to continue in the spirit of Africanism and solidarity to continue to uphold Africa’s common position, defend her interests in all engagements as we tackle with the adverse impacts of climate change on our continent to achieve the Africa We Want.

Excellencies I thank you for your kind attention.