By Friday Phiri
PARIS, France (PAMACC News) - Zambia supports the position of the African Group of
Negotiators for greater transparency on the global financing mechanism in the
new climate agreement that is being negotiated in Paris, France.
Highlighting some key emerging issues as outlined by the
AGN’s briefing to the African Ministerial Conference on Environment-(AMCEN) at
the Africa Pavilion, Zambia’s focal point person at the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Richard Lungu said greater
transparency in the new agreement will be a crucial component in moving forward.
The Lungu said the call comes in the wake of the released
report in October by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
(OECD) highlighting that they had already mobilized $62 billion out of the $100
billion dollars pledge towards climate financing.
“Earlier in October, the OECD released a report that they
had mobilized 62 billion dollars out of the 100 billion that was pledged in
Cancun to be mobilized by 2020. But we as Africa, we are asking that where is
the money because we have not seen the money”, he said.
This position sits well with the message of Africa at the
Paris COP 21. Aptly put by President Akinwumi Adesina of the African
Development Bank saying, “Africa has already been short-changed by climate
change. Now, we must ensure that Africa is not short-changed with climate
finance”.
With the bank’s commitment to support Africa’s renewable
energy drive, pledging US $12 billion for Africa’s renewable energy in the next
five years, the continent is in a pole position to demand for a fair deal.
And AfDB Vice President, Aly Abou-Sabaa reiterated this
point in his remarks during the official opening of the AMCEN meeting saying:
“I wish to emphasise that COP 21 agreement that does not meet Africa’s demands
cannot be said to be a successful one”.
With key political and cross-cutting issues being
Adaptation, Ambition, Differentiation and Flexibility for Africa and Finance,
the AGN has asked the African Ministers to be bold in their high level
engagement without compromising the historic perspective of the negotiations.
Fatima Denton of the African Climate Policy Centre of the
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa-(UNECA) agreed with this reason
saying: “As we continue making history here in Paris, history will remember
also if Africa does not ask what it wants”.
Dr. Denton believes Africa is already contributing to a
safer world through its ‘default de-carbonized’ economic pathway saying “if
Africa and its people were to intensify fossil fuel use, the consequences would
be grave”.
For a continent that emits no more than 4% of global
emissions, the ambitions new renewable energy initiative announced by the AfDB
is a serious commitment and must be supported, said United Nations Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon.
“I am encouraged by the strong contribution Africa is
making, against this challenging backdrop, to shift the narrative on climate
action from burden sharing to opportunity sharing. Earlier this week, I had the
pleasure of joining President Al-Sisi, President Hollande and other leaders to
launch the African Adaptation Initiative and the African Renewable Energy
Initiative”, said the Un Secretary General adding that the two initiatives
clearly demonstrate Africa’s leadership by example.
But amid the enthusiasm of the energy prospects ahead, all
eyes will be on the initiator—the African Development Bank, and United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) Deputy Executive Director, Ibrahim Thiaw said:
“COP 21 is an illustration that time has changed for Africa…”, he said, adding
that UNEP “warmly welcome the leadership of AfDB in the processes”.
And on her part, the African Union Commissioner for Rural
Economy and Agriculture, Rhoda-Pearce Tumutsime, action was needed now more
than ever as climate change was already having serious effects on the
continent’s “food security and nutrition”.
Africa has made its commitments and now awaits those on the
other side to do their part for a fair outcome of the COP 21 agreement.
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