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Media Statement
Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
THURSDAY, 12 JUNE 2008:
South Africa’s bid to host the seventeenth session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the seventh session of the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2011 was today supported at the closing of the 12th session of the African Ministers Conference on Environment (AMCEN).
The development of Africa’s Climate Roadmap: from Johannesburg through Africa to Copenhagen came under the spotlight during the 12th session of the African Ministers Conference on Environment (AMCEN) which drew to a close today, Thursday, 12 June 2008 in Sandton.
An African Climate Roadmap was outlined after days of deliberations by African Environment Ministers and representatives who converged in Sandton for the 12th session of AMCEN, which took place from 07 – 12 June 2008.
At this 12th Session of AMCEN, South African Minister of Environment & Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk assumed the chair of AMCEN for the next two years. South Africa’s chairing of the AMCEN will provide an opportunity to raise the profile of global environmental issues in Africa as well as represent Africa at international environmental meetings.
For the development of an African common position as part of the African Roadmap to Copenhagen it was proposed that an African high level expert panel on climate change be formed, to include senior officials and African focal points for the Framework Convention on Climate Change, working in collaboration with UNEP, NEPAD and the Commission of the African Union.
It was decided at this 12th session of AMCEN to establish a work programme with milestones for the development of the common position, with the President of AMCEN mandated to steer the African Roadmap process.
In the summary of newly appointed AMCEN President, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, SA Minister of Environment & Tourism, on the Ministerial policy dialogue, the importance of the decision of the outcomes of the United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Bali, Indonesia, in December 2007 particularly the Bali Action Plan and Bali Roadmap which set 2009 as the date for negotiations on strengthening the climate regime beyond 2012 was highlighted. It was agreed that Africa must speak with one voice in advancing the continent’s interests in negotiations for the climate regime beyond 2012.
“The Bali Action Plan and Bali Roadmap offered Africa the opportunity to build consensus on the complex issues of climate change and sustainable development, to the benefit of the continent. The Presidential summary stated that representatives emphasised the importance for an African consensus on ways of enhancing implementation of the Convention and Protocol beyond Copenhagen, on the basis of the established principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities,” said Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk.
Algeria will hold the first meeting of the planned AMCEN high level expert panel working towards the African Ministerial meeting on climate change in October 2008 and the adoption of a final common position at the special session of AMCEN to be held in June–July 2009 in the margins of the thirteenth African Union Summit.
One of the key elements raised with a view to drafting the common Africa position was with regards to the need to keep global atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases at a manageable level. It was proposed that Africa should seek agreement on a future global emissions reduction regime with targets for all developed countries to reduce their emissions, by 2020, towards the upper end of the 25–40 per cent range for emissions reductions below 1990 levels, and, by 2050, by between 80 and 95 per cent below those levels, to achieve the concentration of 450 ppm of CO2 equivalent in the atmosphere. With developed countries taking the lead in that regard, developing countries would be able to deviate substantially from “business-as-usual” baseline emissions, enabled and supported by finance, technology and capacity-building from developed countries, in a measurable, reportable and verifiable manner.
The President’s summary also included aspects such as financing for NEPAD implementation and Africa’s vision for international environmental governance.
To access the Presidents summary and other AMCEN documents click on the link below: http://www.environment.gov.za/HotIssues/2008/AMCEN/amcen1.html
For further information on AMCEN access the link below: http://www.unep.org/roa/Amcen/Amcen_Events/12th_Session_AMCEN/index.asp
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