What is Africa’s Position going to COP 21 in Paris 2015?

What is Africa’s Position going to COP 21 in Paris 2015?

Many community groups and ethnic minorities lack a voice in the management of shared resources and have little security of tenure over land, forests, fisheries and natural resources.  This has resulted in conflict in some areas.

There are greater challenges in the twenty-first century addressing the threat of climate change. Left unmitigated, the impacts are expected to be devastating. Urgent action is needed to find solutions to a global problem.  Poor people depend disproportionately on the environment for their livelihoods. Climate change is a threat to these livelihoods and intensifies the impact of other environmental threats and hazards and exposes those most dependent on environmental resources namely the poor, indigenous people and women to greater deprivation and economic risk

For over Two (2) decades, Africa and other developing countries have been crying for Climate Justice but their cries however, went unheeded or at best met with unfulfilled promises. They are concerned about the effects of global warming and have taken the position that global efforts must reduce warming to below 1 degree Celsius to avoid Africa being turned into a big incinerator in the future. They are strongly of the view that Africa is also entitled to its fair share of the Earth’s Commons and Resources like anyone else.

We demand reparations for crimes against humanity and nature

We need a minimum of $140 billion annually in reparations to help prevent further deterioration of our environment. This amount is in addition to the trillions we continue to demand for the crimes of enslavement, “trade” in human beings, colonialism, apartheid, “debt,” mass imprisonment, so-called “free trade” etc.

Africa has prioritized ADAPTATION interventions to counter the harm already being experienced throughout the continent and is also demanding Compensation for Loss and Damage caused by extreme weather events attributable to Climate Change.

They are calling for the enforcement of the Polluter Pays Principle, transfer of Technology, adequate Finance for Adaptation and Mitigation Interventions and the building of adequate and relevant Capacity to deal with the challenges of Climate Change.

Africa demands that the Annex 1 [polluting] countriessupport the adoption and development of indigenous and locally innovated technology as well as ensuring efficiency in technology transfer and deployment and alsohonour and deliver on their financial commitments.

Finally, they called for Gender Equity in negotiations and representation.

Africa Youth let raise public awareness of the problem of climate change and build public support for climate policies through the implementation of an effective climate change communication strategy. Build public support for climate policies that will enable the world to meet the objective of limiting global average temperature rise to 2°C above pre-industrial levels. These communication activities should have sufficient funding and a consistent message, including the case for the 2°C objective, sustained over the long-term. Such activities should also be combined with supportive policy measures which enable the public to take action

Kenneth Nana Amoateng 

Chief Executive Officer of Abibiman Foundation  

www.abibimmanfoundation.org/

Email:amoatengken@gmail.com/+233244023651