Scotland seeks partnership with African civil society on climate justice

The Scottish Government has put itself up to work with African civil society to create synergies between climate vulnerable communities in Africa and Scotland.

A country delegation, led by Aileen McLeod, Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, held talks with the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) on the sidelines of the climate change talks in Lima, Peru.

Building on a relationship which started in 2009, the two parties hope to explore mutually beneficial partnerships in recognition of the intricate challenge brought about by climate change on the planet.

Samson Ogallah, Programmes Manager at PACJA, shared the Alliance’s strategic plan to build the capacity of African civil society and media professionals in a bid to support governments on the continent to protect the livelihoods of local people.

 

The rural population in Africa need increased awareness on impacts of climate change and how they can cope.

PACJA is therefore strengthening country-level networks to give a voice to women, children, farmers and other vulnerable and marginalized people in communities.

Madam Aileen underscored Scotland’s commitment to enhance the voice of Africa in international dialogue for climate justice.

Scotland, she says has £6.0million climate-related investments in some African countries - Malawi, Tanzania, Rwanda and Zambia are receiving support water adaptation projects.

The collaboration with PACJA is expected is to open up avenues for Scotland to support the Alliance’s programme implementation in line with its strategic plan.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh/in Lima, Peru

Climate campaigners up against funding of dirty energy in Africa

A commitment to decarbonize economies and transition to a 100% clean energy future by 2050 has been a vociferous subject at the climate change talks in Lima, Peru.

The decarbonization target is currently in the draft text of the climate agreement – close to 90 countries have voiced their support for the inclusion of a zero-emission target.

But there are fears fossil fuel companies and polluting countries will lobby furiously to get it removed before a deal is signed in Paris.

‘Dirty Energy’ campaigners believe burning any fossil fuel for economic expansion is bad for the climate.

Dirty energy involves the exploitation of the earth’s resources, especially petroleum, at the expense of the health and economic livelihoods of low-income communities.

A network of NGOs in Africa staged an action against funding for dirty energy and demanded a stop to fossil fuel use by 2050 whilst attention is turned to renewable, efficient energy use.

Kofi Adu Domfeh filed this report from Lima.

https://soundcloud.com/kofi-adu-domfeh/climate-campaigners-up-against-funding-of-dirty-energy-in-africa

African Heads of States hear concerns of civil society for climate justice

The Committee of the African Heads of States on Climate Change (CAHOSOCC) has given an ear to concerns of civil society to ensure people in Africa are not cheated out of the ongoing UN climate talks in Lima, Peru.

The CSOs have observed that Africa is been forced to “retreat” from its strong negotiating positions held before the Copenhagen meeting, thus “narrowing” Africa’s negotiating space and options and gradually dismantling the UNFCCC regime.

“An unfair climate decision that we sign next year, if it’s not in the interest of Africa, would have condemned our people,” stated Robert Chimambo of the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA).

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has two treaties under the Kyoto Protocol, which commits highly industrialized countries and countries undergoing the process of transition to a market economy to have legally binding emission limitation and reduction commitments. The ultimate objective is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system.

 

African civil society is worried the issue of mitigation, as understood in the Convention, is being shifted to the disadvantage of developing countries.

“African and other developing countries are being forced to do mitigation at our own cost. This is a complete departure from the spirit and letter of the Convention”

At a meeting with a delegation of political leaders under the CAHOSOCC, the CSOs tasked African Heads of States master the political will to exert their role in the negotiation processes.

“Your message is our message… what you are feeling is what we are feeling,” noted Dr. Binilith Satano Mahenge, a Minister of State at the Office of Tanzania’s Vice President.

He stated African leaders have started moving together to put forth a common position and working with an adopted document highlighting their issues on climate change in line with global agreements.

Dr. Mahenge observed “you can’t do anything on adaptation, technology transfer, capacity building if you don’t have money.”

 

He commended work done by the African Group of Negotiators (AGN), adding that the presence of African civil society at the COP20 is making a milestone ahead.

“We are at a point that we are able to tell the world and to tell other countries what we want. Let us continue negotiating; let us not be discouraged,” he urged.

The CSOs fear current emission reductions on the negotiating table will push Africa’s warming to 3-6^oC.

“Chad and Niger are currently experiencing well over 40 degree Centigrade temperatures, which means over 50 degrees, increase if Africa accepts proposed low emission cuts by the Developed Countries,” said PACJA.

Programmes Manager at PACJA, Sam Ogallah, said the CSOs are not relenting in pushing the EU and other parties to heed to the African concern for climate justice.

 

Mr. Chimambo believes Africa must reserve its right and prerogative to pull out of the Paris Negotiations if it’s given a raw deal in Lima.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh/ in Lima, Peru

Global climate justice carnival hits Lima COP20

Local communities and environmental activities from diverse countries and cultures took to the streets of Lima to demand climate justice from world leaders gathered for the United Nations climate change talks in Peru.

The People's Climate March recorded the biggest crowd in Central Lima in recent times – an estimated 15,000 participants.

As the climate negotiations peak, the marchers on the Global Day of Action are calling for real action from ministers of states attending the conference. Most of them are demanding a shift to 100 per cent clean energy by 2050.

The march follows the delivery of a 2.2 million person petition by 100 children to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, Peruvian President Ollanta Humala and COP President Manuel Pulgar Vidal at the UN climate talks in Lima.

Kofi Adu Domfeh filed this report from Peru.

https://soundcloud.com/kofi-adu-domfeh/global-climate-justice-carnival-hits-lima-cop20

Video file...

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.

Climate finance cannot be separated from development finance, Ban Ki-moon

Provision of adaptation support and resilient building for the most vulnerable and developing countries must be prioritized at the ongoing climate change talks in Lima, Peru, says UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon.

He therefore wants tangible progress made by the 20^th session of the Conference of Parties (COP20) in solidifying the climate finance regime.

The Secretary-General describes the initial capitalization of nearly $10billion to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) as a positive step but he is concerned that “our collective action does not match our common responsibilities”.

“I call on countries that have not yet pledged to the Green Climate Fund to consider making an ambitious financial commitment in Lima,” he said. “We must also clearly define a pathway for achieving the goal of $100billion by 2020 in support of developing countries”.

Ban Ki-moon also urged the private sector to leverage on the $200billion commitment at the Climate Summit in New York last September.

According to him, issues of climate finance should not be treated separately from development finance since “combating climate change is an essential part of the foundation of sustainable development; we cannot treat it as a separate issue or we risk losing all hard won development gains of the past decade”.

The Union of Concerned Scientists wants Ministers of States arriving for the talks to exert their influence and provide much-needed political guidance to negotiators over the coming days.

“These include the need to make sure that national emissions reduction pledges are put forward every five years, starting for 2025, so that climate action is scaled up frequently, as well as setting clear expectations for countries putting forward fair but differentiated climate action contributions that reflect their varying capacities and responsibility for causing climate change,” said Director of strategy and policy, Alden Meyer.

Ban Ki-moon wants Lima to deliver a balanced, well-structured and coherent drafted text that provides a solid foundation for the 2015 negotiations on agreements to be reached in Paris. A common understanding must also be reached on the scope and status of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs).

 

He says by acting now, “we can build more resilience, prosperous and healthy societies” and urged all societies to be part of the solution to lower global warning below 2^oC.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh/ in Lima, Peru

Progress in the first week of the UN climate negotiations in Lima

Technical negotiations during the first week of the climate talks in Lima (COP20) have mostly gone smoothly, but important negotiating-team level discussions on a handful of key issues need to conclude this week so that there is wide agreement on the range of options facing the Ministers as they arrive early next week to pick up the high-level negotiations.

Negotiations are focussing in on critical elements including the nature of country pledges for the upcoming Paris agreement, pledges known as intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs). Countries will need clarity on the rules and format for these pledges as they are due to be delivered in the next 3-6 month. One key issue that Ministers must contend is the time period the pledges will cover.

“The timeframe issue is our key worry” explains Li Shuo from Greenpeace China. “A short commitment period would do a lot of good things but it hasn’t been discussed in an extensive manner. We learnt from the Kyoto Protocol that an 8-year period makes it very difficult to ratchet measures up as changes take place in the real world.

“In China, for example, things are changing fast, coal consumption is down 1-2% this year. The Marshall Islands have sent a very positive signal, arguing for a 5 year commitment period that can capture the most relevant and fresh circumstances in the real world. Countries will submit their INDCs early next year so we need to make progress over a short-term commitment period here in Lima.”

Discussions about what actions need to be taken to tackle climate change before 2020 have been noticeably absent from the negotiations so far. Although The Paris Agreement is set to be reached in 2015, it won't kick-in until 2020, leaving unaddressed what action countries should take in the six years before then.

Shuo explained, “we are already approaching the end of the week and we are worried that we won’t have enough time to discuss this vital element of a draft Paris agreement. We need to ensure that countries are sufficiently prepared to capture the low hanging fruit. This is about securing short-term actions that countries can take that will form the basis for ongoing climate action.”

Negotiators also need to focus on how a Paris agreement would help countries affected by climate change adapt to the challenges that they face. A new UNEP report shows reveals that the cost of this adaptation could reach $150 billion by 2030, underlining how vitally important this aspect is.

“We believe there won’t be agreement in Paris if adaptation is not included in the draft of the agreement - most countries asking for it. Fortunately the talks are going smoothly and we are making progress on this issue”, said Tania Guillén from Centro Humboldt Nicaragua/SUSWATCH.

When ministers arrive for the high level negotiations next week will have to decide whether the current structure of the draft Paris agreement provides those suffering from climate impacts that are “locked-in” with enough support or whether a new mechanism needs to be established to compensate for loss and damage.

Many delegations are seeking for a clear pathway to ramp up financial and technological support. “We think that $10 billion already pledged by rich nations is not enough for vulnerable countries to deal with the impacts of climate change”, said Guillén.

Ministers also need to discuss the option of having an adaptation goal, an idea that really needs fleshing out. “They have to decide whether this will be part of the new agreement and whether it will be part of the INDCs. If adaptation is included within national climate action plans it will help to reinforce this vital pillar of the entire convention”.

With so much to do and, clearly, so much at stake, we are expecting a late night at the UN climate negotiations here in Lima.

On the side lines

Norway has announced that it has doubled its pledge to the Green Climate Fund to approximately $230 million bringing the fund slightly closer to the lower end of the unofficial $10-15 billion target range.

However, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop announced that Australia will not contribute to the Green Climate Fund.

Germany has approved a new plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions to help meet its 2020 targets. Hidden in the fine print is an impressive CO2 reduction goal for the energy sector, adding up to an impressive 93 million tonnes that the energy sector is required to cut before 2020. 

The chief negotiator for China, Su Wei, has announced that China favours a ten-year commitment period for the climate agreement to be signed by the countries in Paris in a year's time.

UNEP warns climate adaptation costs could triple

A new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) shows climate adaptation costs for developing countries are likely to be two to three times the current estimates of $70 to 100 billion per year.

The UNEP Adaptation Gap report says this will happen even if global emissions are cut drastically to meet the agreed goal of limiting warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius.

The African Group of Negotiators (AGN) at the climate talks has acknowledged the $100 billion to be mobilized by developed countries by year 2020 is a starting point to climate adaptation. Their aim, according to the Chair, Nagmeldin El Hassan, is to see a 1.5^oC or 2^oC warming limit.

Martin Kaiser, Head of Climate Politics in Greenpeace, said “if the Paris treaty is to make a difference, countries must agree to phase out fossil-fuel emissions to zero and lead us to a renewable energy future”.

He wants businesses causing the problem to be held accountable and compensate the victims of their dirty actions, a position shared by African civil society.

 

Christian Aid has also called for negotiators at the ongoing UN climate summit in Lima to heed the warnings.

Christian Aid’s Senior Climate Change Advisor, Mohamed Adow, said “this UNEP report outlines in stark detail the huge costs of adapting to climate change being faced by poor countries around the world. Already some developing countries are reaching the limit they can bear with their limited resources. The poor and most vulnerable should not be left alone with the option to simply adapt or die.”

He described as “a cruel irony” that the rich countries whose carbon emissions helped create these climate change impacts do not want adaption to be a central part of the Paris agreement.

“It’s important that action on emissions is linked to action to help countries adapt. While emissions cuts remain low it is even more vital that adaption support increases”, said Mohammed.

African civil society, led by the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) has stated that any climate change deal that is leading to 3^oC of warming should be resisted as it will cause untold problems of hunger,  starvation, disasters, conflicts and wars in Africa.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh/ in Lima, Peru

Renewable energy partnership critical for African farmers

African civil society at the climate talks in Lima, Peru, has identified renewable energy as key to stop deforestation and reduce poverty on the continent.

They therefore support the proposed Global Renewable Energy Partnership put forward by the African Group of Negotiators (AGN).

The proposal falls in line with the UN Secretary-General’s sustainable energy for all initiative, launched in 2011.

“Our people do produce food but there is no value addition in the last 100years, so what we now need is to introduce energy so that at the smallholder farm level our people can add value to the products they produce,” said Robert Chimambo of Zambia Climate change Network.

He believes access to renewable energy would be critical to enable smallholder farmers add value at the farm-level for higher income earnings.

Mr. Chimambo was speaking at a press conference organized by the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) to outline demands of African civil society at the COP20.

“What we need in the context of climate change is resources to roll out small hydropower, solar and other renewable energy to reach the lowest of our farmers and our communities,” he noted.

The overreliance on biomass, especially charcoal and firewood, puts pressure on Africa’ forest resources.

 

In an interview, Mr. Chimambo noted that each country would need to find out the cost-effective way of delivering energy to smallholder framers and energy-deficient communities.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh/ in Lima, Peru

Researchers promote integrated food production system in Ghana

Ghanaian agricultural researchers are encouraging integrated farming as an economically and environmentally sound activity in food production and income generation.

The Crops Research Institute (CRI) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is implementing the Aquaponics-based Food System (AFS), which combines crop production with fish, poultry and small ruminant rearing.

The objective, according to research scientist and agricultural engineer, Shadrack Kwadwo Amponsah, is to ensure all year-round food production for enhanced nutrition to the smallholder farmer, whilst offering an attraction for the youth to venture agriculture.

“Imagine a farming having a small piece of land with all these food production systems integrated into one; I don’t think you will complain if you have no money on you because you have enough to eat,” he stated.

Mr. Amponsah explains the emerging venture of producing worms for composting, known as vermiculture. According to him, this is essential to produce organic crops in an integrated farm that helps to mitigate the changing climate.

The impacts of climate change are already being felt everywhere and in all economic sectors.

In countries like Ghana, where farmers rely heavily in rain-fed agriculture, local farmers are most vulnerable to the unpredictability of the weather.

Whilst developing economies seek climate justice to mitigate the effects of the changing climate on livelihoods, researchers are exploring adaptation mechanisms to make agriculture sustainable.

Mr. Amponsah believes diversification of production is highly productive and efficient in managing risks imposed by the environment and climate change.

The Institute’s project field is exposing the public to opportunities to earn sustainable livelihoods from integrated farming whilst contributing to environmental protection.

Director of the CRI-CSIR, Dr. Stella Ennin, believes the project is the way forward to achieving sustainable food security in Ghana.

“You can see how crop productivity is much higher when you have manure from this system put on the crops… so this is a system that we are looking at ways of improving and adapting to our system and I can say it’s wonderful,” she said.

The AFS project is sponsored by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Cooperation (EMBRAPA) and implemented by the CRI-CSIR in collaboration with the Water Research and Animal Research Institutes.

Shadrach is confident integrated farming is a viable way out of youth unemployment in Ghana and other African economies.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh

Listen to audio report...

https://soundcloud.com/kofi-adu-domfeh/integrated-food-production-system-in-ghana

Civil Society demands shift in private sector investment at Lima talks

Solving the problem of global climate change is impossible without huge shift in private sector investments, since this sector represents trillions of dollars with vast majority of economic activities around the world.

This is the view of Civil Society in contributing to a discussion at the ongoing climate change talks in Lima, Peru.

According to Dr. Thomas Jallah of the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), what is needed most is policy changes and regulations particularly in developed countries “to shift private investments from brown to green”.

“National governments could do far more to shift incentives so that trillions of dollars of private investments will flow to sustainable climate-friendly activities,” he said.

Such measures, Dr. Jallah noted, may include strong legally-binding emission targets, output limit and scaling down fossil fuel power stations.

Business and industry groups attending the COP20 say they strongly support the works of the parties to address climate risks to emission mitigation and adaptation.

“We welcome the targets taken on by the EU and those announced by the US and China” said representative, Miles Austin. “We hope to see far more progress in the short term and encourage you to ensure the markets can make their fullest contribution and the private sector investment and action is capitalized to the utmost”.

The Business and Industry (BINGO) Day at the COP20 will present the activities and messages of business and industry organizations concerned about the potential impacts and opportunities presented by the negotiations.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh/ in Lima, Peru

Climate talks in Lima could trigger greater climate crisis in Africa

Civil society observers have warned that the new climate talks in Lima could trigger even greater climate crisis in Africa, if they are not careful to protect the rights of poor and vulnerable in the continent most impacted by climate change.

“Negotiations on a new climate deal are struggling due to trust issues – but we will not be hoodwinked by technical or procedural tricks,” said Mithika Mwenda, General Secretary of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA).

He was referring to problems at the talks over the responses of rich developed countries which show no sense of urgency.

“News that Japan wants to count coal power plants as climate finance, or that still nobody has endorsed the African proposal for a renewable energy partnership, just show that dirty energy has too many champions here,” noted Mithika. “The litmus test of Lima will be – does it see pre-2020 climate action increase? So far the silence is deafening”.

Rev. Dr. Tolbert Jallah from FECCIWA, an umbrella body of faith-based organizations observed “we were promised that emission cuts would be strengthened this year, they weren’t. Instead African countries are been saddled with additional load of paying for climate debt which they least contributed to”.

 

The UN talks, lasting two weeks in Lima, are focused on increasing climate actions in the near-term and on creating a new climate agreement for 2015 – to come in to effect in 2020.

“Africa must stay united and stay strong - we will name and shame those who break from the position. Any climate change deal that is leading us straight to 3^oC of warming causing untold problems of hunger,  starvation, disasters, conflicts and wars in Africa is not in the interest of the continent and should not be accepted,” said Samson Ogallah of Pan African Climate Justice Alliance.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh/ in Lima, Peru

African Group demands action at Lima Climate Conference

The African Group is committed to the success of the Lima conference, taking place at a crucial moment in our common efforts to address the challenges of Climate Change.

The United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Lima, Peru from 1st to 12th December 2014 represents a critical moment in the international climate change negotiations.

African countries, united in the talks as the African Group, intend to use this opportunity to build the multilateral rules-based system through a comprehensive outcome to curb the growing threat posed to the African continent.

"We have a mandate from science, from our people, from the continent of Africa, and from the United Nations itself to push for enhanced global climate action to cut GHG emissions as well as strengthen adaptation; this will be a priority for us," said Nagmeldin El Hassan, Chair of the African Group.

He further alluded on the group's priority on the two key objectives of the Lima Conference: raising international climate action in the pre-2020 period, and negotiation of a new agreement coming to effect in 2020.

Science indicates that without a drastic increase in climate action pre-2020 the goal of limiting warming to 1.5^oC or 2^oC is at risk.

Seyni Nafo, African Group spokesperson, expressed concern about action pre-2020 and said that only climate finance will propel action on the ground.

"Recent pledges to the Green Climate Fund are a small first step, but funding around $2.4 billion per year is not close to the actual need, and is a far cry from the $100 billion pledged for 2020. Lima should provide a clear roadmap for how finance contributions will increase step-by-step to 2020," he said.

Xolisa Ngwadla, Africa's lead negotiator on the new legal agreement, emphasised the single mandate from Durban for negotiation of agreement to be concluded in 2015 in Paris and applied from 2020 onward.

He noted the African Group's concern – expressed earlier in the negotiations in October – that some parties are 'pushing back' on understandings in Duban and Doha by proposing an asymmetric 2015 agreement that focuses on one element (mitigation) to the exclusion of others.
 

"The 2C global goal poses a lot of risks for Africa. The IPCC has showed that 2C of warming means substantial adaptation measures are needed in Africa to ensure food security and support sustainable development," Ngwadla said.

He added, given those risks, adaptation must be central to the post-2020 agreement and we need far greater transfers of finance and technology to countries who are particularly vulnerable to adverse effects yet have little historical responsibility for climate change.

Seyni Nafo responded to the recent announcements by the EU, US and China of 2030 emission targets. He commended them for proactivity in announcing the targets, while noting they fall well short of what science requires.

He also challenged the EU and US to match stronger mitigation targets with intended contributions on finance, adaptation, technology transfer and capacity building, in accordance with their international law obligations. He stressed that Lima must clarify requirements for national mitigation contributions, and their assessment for adequacy and equity.

El Hassan also reaffirmed assertions by the African Union Committee of African Heads of State on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) that a fair agreement in Paris for Africa is one that includes all of the pillars of the Durban mandate, not merely mitigation – that is mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology development and transfer, capacity-building and transparency of action and support.

It is not acceptable to relegate the group's call for prioritisation of adaptation, to "political parity", as the group is looking for material and legal parity between mitigation and adaptation.

He said that finance, technology and capacity building should not be seen as peripheral to the agreement just because it may be inconvenient to some of our negotiating partners.

UN Climate Talk opens with people hungry for action

The United Nations Climate Conference opening on Monday in Lima, Peru carries the prospects of putting the world on the pathway to a comprehensive climate agreement in 2015, experts say. 

According to Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) “we must draw several critical lines of action” such as bringing a draft of a new, universal climate change agreement to the table and clarifying how national contributions will be communicated next year.

She also expects a consolidated progress on adaptation to achieve political parity with mitigation, given the equal urgency of both.

“We must enhance the delivery of finance, in particular to the most vulnerable. And finally, we must stimulate ever-increasing action on the part of all stakeholders to scale up the scope and accelerate the solutions that move us all forward, faster,” she urged.

Amidst cautious optimism, African civil society groups under the umbrella of the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) have called for a draft text to be adopted in Paris next year that will commit countries to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.

Speaking at the Pre-UNFCCC COP 20 Consultative Consultative workshop in Lima, Sam Ogallah stated that PACJA’s strength is embedded on the preparedness of the African civil society at all levels to ensure that the New Climate Change Agreement to be concluded in Paris in 2015 is responsive to African aspirations and realities.

Robert Chimambo added that Africa expects nothing short of a comprehensive draft agreement for 2015 in Lima as the stakes are already high with Africa being at the receiving end of the disastrous consequences of climate change.

The UN environment programme warned earlier this month that industrialised countries were falling short of the emissions reductions needed to prevent warming of 2C above pre-industrial levels, the goal set by world leaders. Carbon dioxide emissions are expected to reach a record high of 40bn tonnes in 2014. Meanwhile, 2014 is shaping up to be the hottest on record.

On the basis of the foregoing, “PACJA will continue to strengthen African CSOs and our allies from the south and north in the effort to ensure a broadened ownership of this process. It is our desire, together with partners convening and supporting this Forum, that all people, especially those who are at the frontline of climate change impacts, be involved in the effort to find solution. That’s the only way to make our voices and choices be heard in the Countdown to Paris, and the only way to build effective resilience,” Ogallah says.

The Lima Climate talks which holds from 1-12 December includes the 20^th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 20) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 10^th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 10).

Three subsidiary bodies will also convene: the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI), the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA), and the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP).

The conference will consider agenda items related to finance, mitigation, adaptation and technology. The COP will also hear a report from the ADP concerning progress made during the third year of its mandate to develop “a protocol, another legal instrument or an agreed outcome with legal force under the Convention applicable to all Parties” by 2015 to enter into force no later than 2020.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Dr. Rajendra Kumar Pachauri, Chairperson of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), noted that any further delay will make response to Climate Change too late and too expensive for humanity.

“The window of opportunity to act on climate change is soon closing,” he observed. “Science offers clear rationale for climate action now.”

He stressed that nearly a quadrupling of low-carbon energy is required by 2050, to address the impact of Climate Change.

The UN climate talks in Lima opened with a flame of solidarity as an estimated 10,000 people around the world joined together in the largest ever climate fast to show support for the victims of climate change.

“In this struggle to ensure the New Climate Change Agreement to be concluded in Paris in 2015 is responsive to African aspirations and realities, our voices should be amplified. We need critical mass to drive our agenda at global level. We need unity and commitment to stick on what we agree as African civil society organizations in particular and global civil organizations in general” said Mithika Mwenda of PACJA.

Kofi Adu Domfeh in Lima, Peru

Researchers proffer recipe on how to scale out agricultural technologies

Researchers from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and HarvestPlus have proffered some solutions on how to scale out agricultural innovations and create impact at the farm level.

They are drawing from experiences and lessons learned from past agricultural projects.

This comes at a time when interest in agriculture is back and science-driven agriculture is on top of the agenda of several national governments and is being seen as part of the solutions to development constraints in sub-Saharan Africa.

The researchers recommended that for agricultural innovations to create impact at scale, researchers must adopt the use of innovation platforms—working with multi-stakeholder groups—to effectively catalyze engagement with partners and ensure participation of important actors.

At a meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa to mark the 15^th anniversary of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), the team of scientists also identified the application of innovative communication and dissemination approaches such as the use of  champions and novel information and communication tools (ICT) in outscaling innovations among target beneficiaries.

According to them other measures that could ensure dissemination of knowledge and catalyze technology adoption include: Encouragement of counterpart support/funding (not necessarily cash) by partners to get buy-in and to sustain interest and continuity; Development of an exit strategy at the beginning of the project for continuity and sustainability at the end of the project; Understanding what the beneficiary audience really wants and needs: that is, agricultural innovations should be grounded on audiences’ requirements and based on local knowledge and contexts for them to work.

Dr Alfred Dixon, Head of the Partnership Coordination Office at IITA and Project Leader of the Cassava Weed Management Project, said the strategies shared came at an opportune time when donors and policy makers are looking for methodologies to tackle hunger and poverty and ensure sustainability and impact of projects and programs.

According to him, researchers must do things differently to achieve positive results and impact at the farm level.

“It is no longer business as usual. Our research must benefit the poor farmers and this should be at scale,” he emphasized.

Paul Ilona, Country Manager for HarvestPlus in Nigeria reechoed the need for advocacy through engagement with policymakers and the development of an enabling environment for policy formulation.

He stressed that such approaches influence and facilitate the adoption of agricultural innovations.

The event drew lessons from presentations made on the IITA Business Incubation Platform (BIP) with focuses on aflasafe and Nodumax; Cassava commercialization in Africa; Maize revolution in West Africa; Support for Agricultural Research and Development in Strategic Crops (SARD-SC) in Africa; Dissemination of vitamin A cassava and maize; and Yam for Income and Improvement in Food Security in West Africa (YIIFSWA) model.