Public Agenda (Accra)
Ama Achiaa Amankwah
5 September 2008
As the world grapples with the effects of climate change, the topic could not be ignored at the just-ended 3rd High Level forum on Aid Effectiveness.
The realization is that majority in Africa - who are the poor women, bear the brunt of the effects of climate change yet they least contribute to it.
Several platforms for concerted action to deal with global warming, significantly, the Kyoto Protocol have not allowed sufficient voice for the groups who suffer most from the impact of climate change.
People who live along the Coast, it emerged, are at greatest risk of suffering from effects of global warming. However, governments of these countries do not have the capacity to deal with the catastrophes that come with it.
Panelists at the Forum on Climate Change Adaptation and Aid Effectiveness said that adaptation can only be successful if it is formulated and evaluated in a democratic manner.
They stressed that climate change is more of a development, than humanitarian issue. People's participation was needed in addressing it.
The panelists suggested that the most vulnerable-women and the poor should be separated so they can build their capacity to deal with climate change.
"It is not about civil society organisations' involvement. It's about governments' ability to operate in totality," said Mr Antonio Tujan of IBON Foundation INC.
He added: "The principle of stewardship of the communities must be upheld and private sector as well as the media must be included in the process."
Mr. Tujan observed that there is no clear boundary between adaptation and development. He said adaptation should address the question of lifestyle change and a rethinking of the economies to strengthen the cause for sustainable development.
"When we fund sustainable projects, it is not climate change adaptation. Additional and innovative ways of financing climate change must be found."
Mr Benard Petit of the European Commission said those who are vulnerable cannot afford climate change adaptation and aid effectiveness is not an option.
However, he observed that aid effectiveness must be restructured to include climate change adaptation.
He reiterated that climate change adaptation must be real and should start now in the best way possible with assistance for budget support.
"Europe should help poor countries cope with effects of climate change," said Petit.
He added, "The cost of adaptation is such that a lot of resources are needed calling for more innovative sources of finance for adaptation."
Ministers from over 100 countries, heads of bilateral and multilateral development agencies, donor organizations and civil society organizations from around the world gathered in Accra for the Third High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness (2-4 September).
The Third HLF reviewed progress in improving aid effectiveness, broaden the dialogue to newer actors and chart a course for continuing international action on aid effectiveness.
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