Quel Espoir pour Paris?

Par    Diane  NININAHAZWE

Tandis que les chefs d’Etats  africains  se réunissent à Addis Abeba
pour leur  24eme sommet, les activistes écologiques haussent leur ton
pour rappeler à ses derniers qu’une route vers paris doit être tracée
maintenant.

African Civil Society Groups outline blueprint for Paris Climate talks

By Arison TAMFU

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Jan. 30: Civil society groups in Africa have called on African leaders to ensure that a universally accepted agreement that favours the the position of Africa is signed in Paris where governments around the world will finalise a new international climate change agreement. 

They made the declaration, Thursday Jan. 29 in Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa where African leaders are attending the AU Summit.

Africa joins mass die-in as Lima talks end today

Atayi Babs, PAMACC Team, Lima

 

At the 2013 climate conference in Warsaw, Poland, civil society groups led by the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), Friends of the Earth, Global Campaign for Climate Justice, and others staged a massive and unprecedented “walkout” of the negotiations in protest of what they viewed as another year of failed negotiations that cannot guarantee just outcomes. As protesters left the conference halls in Poland, they chanted the phrase, “Volveremos!,” which in Spanish means, “we will return.”
 

After another year of still rising global warming emissions, diplomats and civil society observers have returned to COP20 in Lima, Peru, with an unrelenting call for justice, but a slightly different tone. With negotiations scheduled to conclude today, members of civil society performed a “die-in” with over 150 participants to reclaim the space and highlight the voices they say are being ignored by the U.N. process.

In unison, demonstrators fell to the ground outside of the plenary hall where a text to set a framework for a global climate “deal” next year in Paris is being negotiated. Speakers from the Philippines, Tanzania, the Dominican Republic, and Peru addressed the crowd of bodies.
“This is hypocrisy and duplicity on the part of developed country governments.” Said Fazal Issa of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) from Tanzania.

“Governments of developed countries are pressuring developing countries when they do not even own up to the inadequacy of their targets and constantly refuse to include climate finance as part of binding agreements. Climate finance for mitigation actions in the South is part of the obligations and fair share of the efforts of developed countries.” Issa told the crowd.

Images of mass die-in on COP 20 final day

No going back on legally binding climate agreement - African Groups

Mohamed Gharib Bilal

Atayi Babs, PAMACC Team, Lima

 

As the Lima climate talks grind to a close, African groups  have stressed the urgent need for a legally binding climate agreement to ensure safety for Africa and Africans.

Mohamed Gharib Bilal, Vice President of Tanzania and Coordinator of the Committee of the African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) disclosed this during the "Africa day event" at the sidelines of the LIma climate conference.

"Africa needs a legally binding climate agreement that places issues of adaptation, finance and technology transfer at the forefront," Vice President Bilal remarked.

Nagmeldin El Hassan, Chair, African Group, while briefing on some outstanding issues in the negotiations noted that the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) clearly identifies Africa’s climate-related vulnerabilities. He highlighted that gaps in parties’ current commitments are a source of concern as they fall far short of the requirement to “keep Africa safe” in a 2°C world. "Africa’s concerns have been enhanced by developed countries’ focus on mitigation and voluntary Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs)" he said.

  

Scotland seeks partnership with African civil society on climate justice

Kofi Adu Domfeh, PAMACC Team, Lima

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.
 

Scottish environment minister fetes PACJA, pledges support for Africa