The
focus of the meeting is on harnessing Africa’s natural capital, taking into
consideration the region’s diverse biodiversity and ecosystems.
This
session is being held in a crucial year for global and regional action to
secure our global future.
The
meeting comes at the heels of the recently concluded 20th UNFCCC Conference (COP20)
held in Lima and also at a time when the African Civil Society is gearing its
momentum towards the 21st UNFCCC COP to be held in Paris, France.
The
world is also engaged in critical negotiations that will lead to the adoption
of a post-2015 development agenda, including a set of Sustainable Development
Goals that will chart a path for the next generation of development.
The
Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), as a key actor, sees AMCEN-15 as
an opportunity to contribute towards Africa’s sustainable development agenda.
PACJA
has therefore organized a Pre-AMCEN Major Group and Stakeholders’ Forum to
promote African governments and the civil society to work together, exchange
experiences and strategies in order to carry the voice of African peoples
forward.
“The
selection of the 15th AMCEN Session’s theme resonates with this year’s spirit,
where two most important global agreements which will determine the future
resource governance, will be concluded,” said Mithika Mwenda of PACJA. “AMCEN
has been a central player in these two processes, and as civil society, we will
continue playing our role within the limits of the space we have been accorded”.
On
the road to Paris, the Pre-AMCEN forum is framing the narrative of green
economy in the context of sustainable development, poverty eradication and
ensuring African issues are reflected in Post 2015 Agenda/consultations.
African
CSOs expect the Conference to define a concrete blueprint that will guide the
continent to discussions on the SDGs.
“We
want to crystallize a strong position when it comes to climate change and
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); we want to link environment with economy;
we want to work on poverty eradication and job creation for our young
population,” said Dr. Khaled Mohamed Fahmy Abdel Aal, Egyptian Minister of
Environment.
Stakeholders
have expressed concerns that Africa is now more than ever before experiencing
adverse consequences of climate change.
“Annual
temperature is consistently increasing; we need to keep temperature lower than
two degrees. For adaptation only we need between $7-15billion. If the trend
continues, by 2050 we will need $100billion,” observed Mounkaila Goumandakoye,
Director and Regional Representative, UNEP-ROA.
AMCEN
is a permanent forum where African ministers of the environment discuss matters
of relevance to the environment of the continent.
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