Zimbabwe To Host 5th African Climate Policy Centre Conference On Climate Change
By Wallace Mawire
Zimbabwe will on 28th to 30th October, 2015 host the African Climate Policy Centre (ACPC) fifth Conference on Climate Change and Development in Africa (CCDA-V) in the resort town of Victoria Falls under the theme: “Africa, Sustainable Development and Climate Change: Prospects of Paris and Beyond”, according to communication received from James Murombedzi, Senior Climate Change Expert (Political), African Climate Policy Center at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Murombedzi sent the notice of communication to host the conference to Elisha Moyo, Principal Climate Change Researcher/ CCDA-V LOC Member, Climate Change Management Department in Zimbabwe’s, Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate.
“A Zimbabwean side event or climate activity conference is on the cards to capitalize on this activity. We are delighted to be hosting this as Zimbabwe and co-organising the conference,” Murombedzi said.
According to information sent to the local environment ministry by Murombedzi, the Climate Change and Development Africa (CCDA) is an annual forum designed to bolster linkages between climate science and development policy by promoting transparent discussions between key stakeholders in the climate and development community.
CCDA seeks to mainstream climate information into decision-making and strengthen capacities focusing on climate sensitive sectors such as agriculture, food security, energy and transport. CCDA convenes researchers, policy makers and development practitioners, climate scientists, user groups and other stakeholders to deliberate contemporary climate change issues and contribute towards the identification and elaboration of appropriate responses, including providing support for policy responses, mitigation, adaptation and technological innovations, among others.
It is reported that previous CCDA forums have discussed issues of climate science and policy, and emphasized the need to use climate science and climate information to support the development process.
The themes of previous CCDA conferences have been “Development First, Addressing Climate Change in Africa” (CCDA – I); “Advancing Knowledge, Policy and Practice on Climate Change and Development” (CCDA – II); “Africa on the rise: can the opportunities from climate change spring the continent to transformative development?” (CCDA – III); “Africa can feed Africa now: translating climate knowledge into action” (CCDA- IV).
It is further reported that CCDA-V will be a moment of reflection on the performance of the UNFCCC in achieving its stated objectives of emissions reduction and sustainable development as detailed in Article 2 of the convention with particular reference to Africa. Issues of greenhouse gas stabilization and the implications of global warming for Africa’s sustainable development will be addressed through a review and analysis of the interactions between climate sciences and policy in the global climate governance framework. The transition to a post-Kyoto climate governance framework is an opportune moment to engage the African continent and the world in such a review.
The review will reflection on the African climate change experiences under the Kyoto Protocol, and seek to inform the emerging Paris framework. The reflections will also set the basis for developing Climate sensitive development policies and processes in Africa in the post Paris period.
Photo credits: Wallace Mawire
