EAC show-cases regional climate change initiatives at the ongoing UNFCC in Marrakech, Morocco
The EAC Secretariat has successfully held a joint side-event themed “EAC Climate Change Programmes: Showcasing Success Stories, Lessons Learned, and Future Plans to Achieving Sustainable Development” at the ongoing 22nd Session of the Conference of Parties (COP22) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 12th Meeting of Parties to Kyoto Protocol (CMP12) at the African Pavilion in Bab Ighli, Marrakech, Morocco.
In collaboration with Partners, the EAC Secretariat showcased the achievements that have been realized in the region in a bid to strengthen resiliency and sustainability of key productive sectors in a wake of climate change.
Welcoming delegates to the side-event, the EAC Director of Productive Sector, Mr. Jean Baptiste Havugimana, said the COP22/CMP12 is providing an opportunity for region to re-negotiate and agree on the modality to contribute to Global Emission Reductions through implementation of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). He said COP22/CMP12 represents a moment of opportunity for East Africa and Africa as a whole to assert itself in global climate governance and ensure that the implementation of the Paris Agreement are congruent with the continent’s long term sustainable development agenda.
Mr. Havugimana, who is also heading the EAC Technical Team at the COP22, said the EAC Secretariat was greatly honoured to jointly organize the side-event with USAID/PREPARED Project, GIZ, IUCN, UNFCCC and ARCOS. The event focused on the 3 thematic areas, namely; Enhancing Ambition – Pre-2020 Action; any issues that help increase and realize ambition; Promoting Implementation – Methodologies, Showcasing of Climate Action, Global Stock Take; and Providing Support to Developing Countries – Means of Implementation, Replicable Tools and Approaches.
The PREPARED USAID/Kenya and East Africa Technical Advisor, Ms. Emily Massawa highlighted to the delegates the Climate Change Adaptation Component of the Planning for Resilience in East Africa through Policy, Adaptation, Research, and Economic Development (PREPARED). She disclosed that using participatory tools to plan and implement community adaptation projects, so far they have identified climate change “hot-spots” at community-level, their risks and adaptation strategies. “With communities, we have developed adaptation options and projects and support small scale pilot climate change adaptation projects at community level (17 communities), said the USAID official.
Ms. Emily Massawa reaffirmed the objectives of PREPARED, which include among others, climate change adaptation technical capacity, policy leadership, and action readiness of regional institutions improved; resilient and sustainable management of biologically significant trans-boundary freshwater ecosystems in the East African Community region strengthened; and resilient and sustainable water supply, sanitation, and wastewater treatment services in the Lake Victoria Basin enhanced.
The EAC Renewable Energy Expert, Mr. Turyahabwe Elsam briefed the delegates on the region’s renewable energy resource potential. He said there were great opportunities in the Hydro Power, Geothermal, Biomass, Wind, Solar, and Wave Energy and disclosed that the Region had a policy target to have Renewable Energy contribute 65% of the electricity production.
The EAC Renewable Energy Expert highlighted the existing framework for renewable energy and energy efficiency development and promotion in EAE that include; Regional Strategy on Scaling Up Access to Modern Energy Services and 5 year implementation action plan; Regional Cross Border Electrification Policy; Regional Power Master Plan; and Climate Change Policy and Plan.
He disclosed that the region had robust targets for the regional strategy on scaling up access to modern energy services which include; providing access to modern cooking practices for 50% of the population that currently uses traditional cooking fuel; providing access to reliable electricity for all urban and peri-urban poor; providing access to modern energy services for all schools, clinics, hospitals and community centres; and providing access to mechanical power for productive uses for all communities.
Mr. Turyahabwe briefed the delegates on the establishment of the EAC Centre of Excellence for renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (EACREEE) to compliment and strengthen the ongoing EAC Partner States’ initiatives in the areas of policy and capacity development, knowledge management and raising awareness as well as investment and business promotion.
He highlighted the opportunities in renewable energy and energy efficiency development in EAC for both private and public participation that include, among others, investments in Renewable Energy for Electricity production as there is increased demand for electricity in the region plus a conducive policy regime; joining EAC government, UNIDO and ADA to support EACREEE to be fully operational; investment in solar water heating in the region, an opportunity that is still intact; and preparation of the renewable Energy Master Plan and Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan.
Presenting on the EAC Sustainable Climate Change Finance by 2020, the EAC Principal Environment and Natural Resource Officer (PENRO), Eng. Ladislaus K. Leonidas noted that climate change was one of the most pressing threats to development today and addressing it requires that countries transform their economies and grow in a different way.
He said development planning must integrate climate change issues so that policies and actions across multiple sectors and scales lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduce vulnerability to climate shocks and deliver poverty reduction gains.
He argued that countries have new and expanded opportunities to finance climate change actions and that in order to take advantage of these opportunities, however, the right institutional and financial mechanisms must be in place so that resources are directed efficiently toward national climate and development priorities.
On the EAC Climate Finance, Eng. Leonidas said financial resources to implement the Policy was a key element in the implementation of the Climate Change Policy and that substantial funds will be required to support mitigation and adaptation initiatives/programmes. “Sustainable funding shall be mobilized from the development partners including multilateral agencies, bilateral partners and intergovernmental agencies and the private sector. There will also be efforts by Partner States to provide supplementary resources”.
He disclosed that EAC’s climate finance readiness activities includes; application to Adaptation Fund (AF) and Green Climate Fund (GCF) for accreditation as a Regional Implementing Entity (RIE); setting and operationalization of the EAC Climate Change Fund and developing a climate change financing sustainability plan; and leading the climate change resource mobilization processes through project design, development and financing.
Meanwhile, addressing the official opening session of the 22nd Session of the Conference of Parties (COP22) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 12th Meeting of Parties to Kyoto Protocol (CMP12), Morocco’s Foreign Minister and newly elected COP22 President Salaheddine Mezouar underscored his country's willingness to host the conference as a demonstration of Africa's commitment as a whole to contribute to global efforts to tackle climate change. “It emphasizes Africa’s desire to take its destiny in hand, to reduce its vulnerability and strengthen its resilience,” he said. The Conference took off just three days after the Paris Climate Change Agreement entered into force.
Addressing the same occasion, the Executive Secretary of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat, Ms. Patricia Espinosa underlined 5 key areas in which work needs to be taken forward, namely; finance to allow developing countries to green their economies and build resilience; nationally determined contributions (national climate action plans), which need to be integrated into national policies and investment plans; support for adaptation which needs to be given higher priority; capacity building needs of developing countries, which should be tailored and specific to their needs; and lastly; full engagement of non-party stakeholders from the North and South, as they are central to the global action agenda for transformational change.