The AMCEN session, whose theme was « Scaling up Africa’s ambition to reduce land degradation, desertification and drought », was held from 1 to 6 September 2024 in Abidjan.
With around 65% of productive land currently degraded, and more than 400 million people affected in Africa, this meeting came at an important time. The ministers discussed strategies for adapting to climate change, protecting biodiversity and implementing commitments made under international agreements such as the Paris Agreement.
It was an opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds, driven by a determination to take sustainable action to reduce land degradation, desertification and drought.
The first day was full of inspiring exchanges and learning. After the customary greetings, we got down to the nitty-gritty, with the various speeches and presentations of the day.
Speaking at the opening of the conference, Dr. ROSE MWEBAZA, UNEP Regional Representative for Africa and the keynote speaker, set the scene: « Africa is facing serious environmental challenges, in particular land degradation and desertification, which threaten the livelihoods of millions of people. These issues are not isolated, but are continent-wide problems that require immediate and sustainable solutions. Innovative land management practices and the restoration of degraded land are needed to ensure the long-term sustainability of Africa’s natural resources ».
Dr Mwebaza said the conference was an opportunity to build and think about solutions that could deliver the results Africa needs to tackle these issues.
David Abudho, Climate Justice Advocacy and Campaigns Advisor at OXFAM Africa said that « decisions must not be elitist but inclusive, reflecting the voices and needs of those most affected by climate and other crises ».
Presentations on climate change by AHMED FATHY, UNDP observer, and SHARON MUTENDE highlighted the various effects of climate change.
These presentations highlighted the need for resilience and adaptability in the face of these effects. They also emphasised the need to invest in youth in order to take advantage of their creativity and sense of innovation to come up with proposals that meet Africa’s needs at COP29.
It emerged that to achieve effective climate justice where no one is left behind, it is necessary to propose specific solutions to the needs of each community.
Michael Kakande, Chairperson of Resilient40 gave us a presentation on the launch of the African Citizens’ Caravan for Climate Justice by OXFAM, scheduled for 5 September 2024 from 8 a.m. at the Sofitel Hotel in Abidjan, ahead of COP29 (UNFCCC) to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November 2024.
At this conference, the various African players will come together to develop a common position in favour of climate justice for the African communities most affected by climate change.
For activists, it is time to pull the lever on climate finance and ensure that the rich, big polluters, pay for climate justice. Africans are facing the worst impacts of the climate crisis, and urgent action is needed to avert catastrophe.
The speech ended with the presentation of drums.
The day ended with a presentation by ANTHONY APKAN and EUGENIA YAYRA AGBLEY on global plastic pollution, which is a major problem in our societies today. Their presentation ended with a “true or false” game.
DAVID N. MUNENE, RF, MGS Africa and Programme Manager moderated the opening session.
Monday 2 September 2024.
The second day began with discussions and then continued with work groups, in order to draw up a common position for the African Major Groups of State (MGS) on each of the following themes;
- Group 1: Land degradation.
Group rapporteur: Mr.. Jesus Koffi Aka of the NGO Blue,
- Group 2: Climate change.
Group rapporteur: Ms Hala Menkari
- Group 3: Loss of biodiversity.
Group rapporteur: Ms Mbaire Kamau
- Group 4: Plastic pollution.
Group rapporteur: Ms Semia Gharbi
The rapporteurs for each group summarized all the group work to produce a common position for the African MGS on each theme.
Group 2 on climate change was the largest group, as this problem is a key issue.
Members of this group focused on issues such as Africa’s priorities, the resilience and adaptation mechanism for COP29 and the types of climate financing and volume of financial needs Africa requires.
Civil society organizations have called for at least $5.9 trillion in climate finance, while stressing the need for this to be in the form of aid rather than loans.
It is therefore imperative to identify all the major polluting countries so that they can review their strategies and draw up laws and policies enabling them to release these funds into a dedicated account at the World Bank.
On the issue of gender, the focus was on promoting the economic empowerment of women and their inclusion in all spheres of the society.
The discussions were particularly enriching, and the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) demonstrated that it is of vital importance for Africa.
Tuesday 3 September 2024
This day consisted of preparing and setting up the launch of the caravan, which was to begin with the press conference and the march for climate justice scheduled for 4 and 5 September 2024. The aim was to plan the various tasks to be carried out for the press conference and the march for climate justice.
Wednesday 4 September 2024
The press conference was held on 4 September 2024, the day of the Continental Conference of African Journalists on the theme « Amplifying African narratives in climate justice: empowering journalists to advance the achievement of just transition in Africa ».
The conference brought together representatives from various African countries to discuss climate issues. The launch activities took place in the Plateau and Cocody communes.
The Climate March in various African countries is a call for climate justice and a crucial opportunity for African communities to defend their rights and secure a sustainable future.
Jean Claude Coulibaly, President of the National Union of Journalists of Côte d’Ivoire stated: The African continent is the most affected by the effects of climate change, yet is responsible for no more than 4% of global emissions ». It was an opportunity for the press and journalists to mobilize people through their stories.
Thursday 5 September 2024
The caravan paraded through the streets of Cocody, joined by young people from neighbouring communes such as Adjamé, Grand-Bassam, Attecoubé, Bingreville, Yopougon, Bouaflé and Bouaké. The parade began at the Sofitel crossroads in Cocody and ended at the Blokosse chiefdom.
The rally brought together more than 245 participants, and the caravan will remain active until COP29 in November 2024 in the form of a series of activities, including climate marches in various African countries. The caravan will be reinforced by a call for climate justice.