African ministers must stand firm in climate deal

African civil society at the UN climate talks has warned against current proposals that drastically shift the talks away from their initial purpose, as agreed in Durban in 2011.

The group under the auspices of Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) also expressed concern about the draft decision and the scope of its contents.

“Wealthy industrialized countries are dishonoring the agreement reached by all parties in Durban on the Africa soil in 2011,” stated Samson Malesi of KEWASNET/CCN, Kenya.

Responding to the latest version of a ‘draft decision text’ released at the talks, Malesi said “in Durban countries launched new negotiations to increase climate action pre-2020 and to conclude a new climate agreement under the Convention for the post-2020 period. Where is the increase in pre-2020 action that people and the planet so clearly demand?”

Samuel Ogallah, PACJA Programme Manager, said “if Lima decides that countries do not mandatorily, binding under international law, need to bring finance, technology and adaptation commitments to the Paris climate deal then it’s hardly a climate deal at all. African Ministers must stand firm in Lima.”

The Alliance has observed that rich developed countries are deconstructing the international climate regime – at a time when they should be strengthening it. 

“They want a narrow agreement in Paris centered on emission cuts only. They want an agreement that shifts new burdens to Africa, while they end the Kyoto Protocol and weaken the UN climate convention, backtracking on current standards and rules,” said Dr. Arig Gaffer Bakhiet of Sudanese Environmental Conservation (SECS).

 

PACJA wants developed countries to increase their climate action in the pre-2020 period; ensure that the Paris Agreement covers all the elements of confronting the climate crisis – mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology, capacity and transparency; ensure that adaptation gets legal parity in the Paris agreement; and ensure that “intended nationally determined contributions” from the developed countries due next year cover all the issues, and are not merely mitigation. 

“Rich countries cannot come to our continent, make promises and then walk away. They must be held to account in Lima to fulfill their promises in Durban for a comprehensive climate deal that works for the people of Africa.” Chakri Said, Morocco Climate Change Network.

Negotiations will continue throughout the week with a final ‘decision’ expected to be adopted late on Friday night local time.