(AYICC) AMCEN meeting: updates from African Youth Initiative on Climate Change

We are at the third day of the AMCEN Meeting here in Bamako. Today, discussions helped to almost finalize the Declaration which ministers are to analyse and adopt from tomorrow afternoon.

We pushed today for the inclusion of community-based adaptation to climate change, ecosystem-based adaptation, civil society organisation participation in the text. Tomorrow will be a critical day for us to ensure greater windows are opened for our participation. Lot of official appointments with ministers are fixed for tomorrow and we will keep you informed.

One question to you all: should we advocate for a 1° C or 1,5°C limitation of the increase in the average temperature? Share your thoughts with us….

Here are some notes of the first day!

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During the opening ceremony of the 13th session of AMCEN here in MALI on this 21st day of June, the following remarks have been made;

Opening remarks from Hon. Minister of Environment and Sanitation (MALI)

· Welcomed participants to the 13th session
· Noted with concern the 500 million hectare loss of African forests per year
· Highlighted on the implementation of NEPAD’s environment initiative
· Informed participants about AMCEN’s re-organisation as a technical specialized arm of African environment issues
· Lastly reminded participants on deliberations of AMCEN theme that focuses on climate change, desertification and biodiversity

Remarks from AU Commission (Dr.Gabriel Abebe, Director Dept of Agric, rural Economy and Env’t)

· Informed participants about the low attention accorded to UN convention to combat desertification and urged experts to highlight this.
· Informed the experts group meeting (today’s meeting) on current work on Conference of African heads of State and Government on Climate change (COHASSOCC) in streamlining work between ministerial level and the expert level of negotiations
· Reminded the participants about COHASSOCC meeting that will sort out outstanding coordination issues
· He further gave insights on African’s common challenges, negotiating with one voice and having a common position with other Multi-lateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs)

Remarks from UN Economic Commission for Africa (Ms. Isatou Gaye, Chief Env’t and Sustinable Dev,t section)

· Highlighted on the platform to deliberate climate change, biodiversity and desertification issues
· Noted with concern, the issue of climate change being a driver to biodiversity loss
· Informed the meeting about Africa climate Policy Center at UN ECA (Ethiopia) that promotes synergetic work of the 3 Rio conventions (CBD, UNCCD and UNFCCC): ClimDev Africa Programme that seeks to improve climate information for development in Africa
· Informed participants about the upcoming review of the Action Plan of AFRICA’s environment initiative
· Further informed members about the work of UN ECA on improving region coordination mechanism of UN agencies and AU
· She further informed the participants about the key related sustainable development, UN ECA has implemented that included; coordinating regional preparation process for CSD-18, on-going process for Rio+20, preparation of the 4th issue of SD report for Africa

Remarks from UNEP Region Office for Africa (Mr. Mounkaila Goumandakoye, Director)

· Welcomed participants to the experts session of the 13th session of AMCEN and informed participants about the 25 years of AMCEN
· Informed participants about the great opportunities that exist with green economy (clean development)
· He further informed participants about the recent study (s) done by UNEP: Environmental crime a case study of Virunga national park.
· He also highlighted the current work on restoration of lake CHAD and Kenya’s MAU forest
· He requested experts to urge their Governments do more work on climate change and desertification and reflect efforts through budgetary contributions
· He informed participants about the 26% environment contribution to most Africa states (though source not acknowledged)
· Further highlighted on the Economics of Economics of Biodiversity (TEEB) study on contribution of environment to economy

Remarks from representative of AMCEN president

· He started with lamenting on Africa efforts to eradicate extreme poverty that have not been successful and noted with concern about Africa’s lagging behind in the implementation of MDGs
· He later retaliated on the huge work to be accomplished by the experts for the ministers that involves; revising AMCEN constitution, adopting the report on Africa’s comprehensive climate change programmes
· He further informed participants that NEPAD remains the key vehicle to Africa’s development agenda
· Reminded participants about one African position when going to Nagoya (Japan) COP-10 of CBD
· He requested experts to open their dairies and find how they will apologies to future generation
· Lastly urged participants to work fully in order to facilitate the work of AMCEN

Representative requests the secretariat for guidance as meeting moves to Agenda item 2 (organization of matters)

· On election of Officers, AMCEN bureau advices on the end of term as on 23rd June thus requesting sub-regional groups/committees to elect their representatives between today and tomorrow
· On adoption of agenda, South Africa moves to adopt while Mauritius supports and Uganda
· Updates from WG1 & 2 of the high level experts meeting on climate change
· WG1 (Mali) reports back citing no clear terms of reference, providing them an English document with no translation in French and incompleteness of the document since West Africa sub-region is not covered, however requests for more time to conclude its work
· WG 2 (South Africa) reports on summary of opportunities brought forward from the presentations on green economy, clean transport and sustainable management of ecosystems
· Not on Agenda, a presentation on status of African negotiation by African group (DR CONGO) on the current climate negotiations is introduced by AMCEN president
· A discussion about the presentation proceeds till lunch time

Best,

Sena ALOUKA

Director

JVE International

Lomé, Togo