African Union (Addis Ababa)

Africa: Concept Note for the First Meeting Of The Conference Of African Heads Of State And Government On Climate Change and African Lead Experts On Climate Change

25 August 2009


document

Addis Ababa — 1. BACKGROUND

The AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government made key decisions on climate change on the continent in recent times. The 8th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly (January 2007) called upon Member States to integrate climate change into their respective development programmes. The 12th Session of the Assembly (February 2009), emphasized the need for international climate change negotiations to give Africa an opportunity to demand for compensation for damages caused by global warming. Further, the AU February 2009 Summit made a landmark decision for building a common Africa position in preparations of COP15 in Denmark, Copenhagen in December 2009, and for Africa to be represented by one delegation that is empowered to negotiate on behalf of Member States. The Assembly mandated the AU Commission to work out modalities of how such representation could be achieved.

Accordingly, the AU Commission carried out the necessary follow up and submitted its Report on implementation to the 13th AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government, in Sirte, Libya (July 2009) where key decisions were made, including the following:

• The Summit approved the Conference of African Heads of State and Governments on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) comprising: Algeria; the Republic of Congo; Ethiopia; Kenya; Mauritius; Mozambique; Nigeria; Uganda; Chairperson of the AU; Chairperson of AUC; and Chairperson of AMCEN.

• The Summit approved the Algiers Declaration (May 2009) on “African Common Platform to Copenhagen” to serve as a platform for the Common African Position on Climate change.

• The Summit further urged the Conference of African Heads of State on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), all AU Ambassadors and the negotiators to make use of the approved African Common Position on Climate Change.

• The Summit authorized AU accession to the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol.

• The Summit asked the AUC to follow up the implementation of the Decision and report back to the AU Summit.

It is in the context of implementing the above Decisions that the AUC seeks to convene the First Meeting of the CAHOSCC.

2. OBJECTIVES OF THE MEETING

The decision of the AU Summit regarding the climate change negotiation structure is premised on the fact that there had been major limitations on African negotiating structure; thus it has not been able to achieve optimal results for the continent. One key gap has been dismal coordination of the African negotiation process. More importantly, there has not been visible continent wide political leadership on climate change negotiations in the UNFCCC process. The technical competence of the negotiators needs to be backed with the political weight at the highest level in the continent to have the desired impacts at global level. Secondly, the positions taken by the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government need to be interpreted technically by the negotiators and translated into negotiating positions and texts. This will be one way of ensuring that the African voice on climate change negotiations is taken with the seriousness it deserves.

The objectives of the meeting, therefore, shall be the following:

a) Briefing the Conference of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) on the African Climate Change processes as overseen by the AUC;

b) Updating the CAHOSCC on the key positions being taken by the continent, by African negotiators in the run up to UNFCCC negotiation including COP 15 in Copenhagen; and

c) Endorsing the key political messages to be carried forward by CAHOSCC and the Conference of AU Ambassadors on Climate Change to the UNFCCC negotiations towards Copenhagen.

d) Agreement on modalities of work by the CAHOSCC.

3. FORMAT OF MEETING

The meeting will be structured into three Sessions and a Press Conference, as follows:

Session 1: Briefing on the AUC’s engagement in Climate Change activities and updating CAHOSCC on the Climate Change negotiation process – AU Chairperson.

Session 2: Updating CAHOSCC on key positions being taken by the African group of negotiators; and presenting to CAHOSCC the key areas of support needed, at political level, to drive African positions optimally, through the UNFCCC process– by Lead Negotiator for the African Group;

Session 3: Adoption of the common key political messages and CAHOSCC organization issues including division of responsibilities on leadership in key thematic areas; and way forward – Facilitated by AUC Chairperson, Chaired by an agreed member of the CAHOSCC (closed session).

Press Conference

4. KEY OUTCOMES AND OUTPUT

This 1st session of the CAHOSCC will produce the first-ever AU-Summit sanctioned key political messages on climate change from Africa, which will be widely distributed on the continent and throughout the World. This output will be informed by various political processes on climate change taking place in the continent.

Secondly, there will be close alignment of technical positions being negotiated by the African Group to the political messages from the continent, especially from the CAHOSCC.

There will be two primary outputs. First, the AUC will have prepared draft “Common Key Political Messages on Climate Change from Africa” to be forwarded for approval by the CAHOSCC. Secondly, there will be a press release on African Common Positions on Climate Change negotiations in the run up to COP15.

5. KEY ELEMENTS OF THE AFRICAN COMMON POSITION

The African Common Position on climate change has three distinct elements:

First, the decisions of the AU Assembly on climate change. It is noteworthy that these decisions are based on many processes in the continent, e.g. Conference of African Ministers of Environment (AMCEN), Conference of African Ministers of Finance, the AU Executive Council, etc. Appendix 1 captures some key elements of the African political positions.

Second, the updated Algiers Declaration (May 2009) on the “African Common Platform to Copenhagen”. This platform has informed Algiers submissions to the UNFCCC negotiations on behalf of the African Group of negotiators, as approved by the AU Summit. Appendix 2 captures key elements of Africa’s common submissions to the UNFCCC.

Third, the final submissions from the African Group on negotiators to the UNFCCC negotiation. This reflects evolving positions in the continent and is a confidential document used by the African Group of Negotiators.

6. KEY REFERENCE DOCUMENTS

AU Assembly Decision on the African Common Position on climate change including the modalities of the representation of Africa to the world summit on climate change (Assembly/AU/Dec.257(XIII)

AU Assembly Decision on the African Common Position on Climate Change (Assembly/AU/Dec.236(XII)

Submission by Algeria on behalf the African Group:: Key Elements of LCA Negotiation Text Final Version - 8 April 2009

Submission by Algeria on behalf the African Group: Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP)

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AllAfrica - All the Time
Author: com. Ekwealor Chinedu T
Fri Sep 4 11:08:17 2009

It is indeed a healthy agitation. of what benefit will is it to kill someone and pay his or her relatives some compensation? let the rich nations get down to the business of implementations on International agenda as they do on their respective national programmes. A Walk Out from a room that house decision on inflicting injuries and pains on innocent souls, is one to be emulated.

Author: tegga_lendado
Fri Sep 4 16:10:03 2009

SADA says Euro Arabs would not care a dime what happens to us as a people until we are able to motivate our members to see the plight that needs to be corrected. Our leaders must be blamed for not uniting to tackle the climate change and degradations and degeneration of our environment. When I visited my farm lands in Ghana last year, I noticed that four small rivers have vanished. My sisters have farmed the protective forest that my grand father Akwasi Adowia had left around the small rivers due in part to population explosion in my family. Even my grand father who lived 125 years and died in 1994 knew how to protect the rivers but the miseducated Europeanized and Arabized Africans do not know that the tropical sun would suck the rivers when exposed to the sun. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME. Now Ghana is almost a desert land. The impenetrable forest lands that I saw when I was growing up is all gone due to timber contractors. What will the future be with so much indifferences in Africa to our natural feelings. God bless Africa and God bless Africans. Kofi Agyapong 240-417-0299 In a message dated 09/04/09 03:35:01 Eastern Daylight Time, tegga_lendado@yahoo.com writes: tegga lendado (tegga_lendado@yahoo.com) has sent you a news article. (Email address has not been verified.) ------------------------------------------------------------ Personal message:

As an Africa environmetal advocate, I can simply say climate crisis is one of Africa's worst woes. I am not sure if the damage can be deterred, repaired, corrected or even, whether any monetary value can be attached to it. I had seen this coming when I was working for the UN in Mozambique in 1980s'as a forestry engineer and pleaded with the government then. In fact, that was one of the reasons why I abandoned the profession trying to be true to my conscience. Any sound-minded person should support this cause to avert Africa's inhumane destruction. I believe it is time that Africans stand united more than ever to counter any move that aggravates Africa's worsening climatic and ecological conditions. I wish to call upon all Africans and concerned cosmic citizens, community and religious leaders to stand against any global warming provocations, (plus 2 degrees, etc.) in general and Africa's environmental degradation resulting from adverse immoral and greedy political decisions in Copenhagen or any where else. Any irresponsible exploitation of God's creation would dethrone man from his God-given stewardship position and force him to be victim of his own environment. Can any financial deal compromising the Africans' life be made at any time or any place or by any person? A serious assessment on the damage of continental African life and property should be made for the past devastation so as to pave the way for the future peaceful coexistence of all humanity in this terristrial village. My request for Mr. Meles and concerned leaders now is not to make any obscure deal that might haunt us later. Transparency not obscurity, fairness not favoritism, equal partnership not colonial supremacy and mutual cooperation, not monopolistic exploitation should be the way to advance for the sake peace and justice.

Africa to abandon climate talks if demands not met: Ethiopian PM - Yahoo! News

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090903/sc_afp/environmentclimateafrica

============================================================ Yahoo! News http://news.yahoo.com/

Author: tegga_lendado
Fri Sep 4 16:11:47 2009

SADA says Euro Arabs would not care a dime what happens to us as a people until we are able to motivate our members to see the plight that needs to be corrected. Our leaders must be blamed for not uniting to tackle the climate change and degradations and degeneration of our environment. When I visited my farm lands in Ghana last year, I noticed that four small rivers have vanished. My sisters have farmed the protective forest that my grand father Akwasi Adowia had left around the small rivers due in part to population explosion in my family. Even my grand father who lived 125 years and died in 1994 knew how to protect the rivers but the miseducated Europeanized and Arabized Africans do not know that the tropical sun would suck the rivers when exposed to the sun. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME. Now Ghana is almost a desert land. The impenetrable forest lands that I saw when I was growing up is all gone due to timber contractors. What will the future be with so much indifferences in Africa to our natural feelings. God bless Africa and God bless Africans. Kofi Agyapong 240-417-0299 In a message dated 09/04/09 03:35:01 Eastern Daylight Time, tegga_lendado@yahoo.com writes: tegga lendado (tegga_lendado@yahoo.com) has sent you a news article. (Email address has not been verified.) ------------------------------------------------------------ Personal message:

As an Africa environmetal advocate, I can simply say climate crisis is one of Africa's worst woes. I am not sure if the damage can be deterred, repaired, corrected or even, whether any monetary value can be attached to it. I had seen this coming when I was working for the UN in Mozambique in 1980s'as a forestry engineer and pleaded with the government then. In fact, that was one of the reasons why I abandoned the profession trying to be true to my conscience. Any sound-minded person should support this cause to avert Africa's inhumane destruction. I believe it is time that Africans stand united more than ever to counter any move that aggravates Africa's worsening climatic and ecological conditions. I wish to call upon all Africans and concerned cosmic citizens, community and religious leaders to stand against any global warming provocations, (plus 2 degrees, etc.) in general and Africa's environmental degradation resulting from adverse immoral and greedy political decisions in Copenhagen or any where else. Any irresponsible exploitation of God's creation would dethrone man from his God-given stewardship position and force him to be victim of his own environment. Can any financial deal compromising the Africans' life be made at any time or any place or by any person? A serious assessment on the damage of continental African life and property should be made for the past devastation so as to pave the way for the future peaceful coexistence of all humanity in this terristrial village. My request for Mr. Meles and concerned leaders now is not to make any obscure deal that might haunt us later. Transparency not obscurity, fairness not favoritism, equal partnership not colonial supremacy and mutual cooperation, not monopolistic exploitation should be the way to advance for the sake peace and justice.

Africa to abandon climate talks if demands not met: Ethiopian PM - Yahoo! News

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090903/sc_afp/environmentclimateafrica

============================================================ Yahoo! News http://news.yahoo.com/

Author: upliftdarace_144
Fri Sep 4 22:19:12 2009

This Global Warming Stuff Is A Complete Hoax . Man has so arrogantly told

God, by inference, that God the Creator didn’t Create things quite right. The United

Nations is just another attempt by Satan to build another Tower of Babel .

If you want to know some real truth tune in to Alex Jones’ Infowars broadcast.

You can listen 24 hours a day. It’s live for 4 hours and on continuous re-broadcast for the

other 20 hours. Here’s a link to articles on the Hoax of Global Warming.

[http://www.scroogle.org/cgi-bin/nbbw.cgi]

What is this hype of Global warming for ? It’s designed to give these phony

scientists ( who actually act like they were taking part in the Creation itself ) and the

organizations they represent control of the world’s natural resources. The GEORGIA

GUIDESTONES is consistent with United Nations goals for the world.

Here is a synopsis of the GEORGIA GUIDESTONES :

[The Agenda Of The Antichrist aka The Georgia Guidestones (GG) ]

10 POINTS LIKE THE 10 HORNS OR RELIGIONS OF THE BEAST

[Revelations 13:1]

And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having 7

heads (Kings) and 10 HORNS (Religious Kingdoms), and upon his horns ten crowns, and

upon his heads the name of blasphemy

THE GEORGIA GUIDESTONES

1) MAINTAIN HUMANITY'S POPULATION UNDER 500 MILLION IN

PERPETUAL BALANCE WITH NATURE

2) GUIDE REPRODUCTION WISELY —IMPROVING FITNESS AND DIVERSITY

3) UNITE HUMANITY WITH A LIVING NEW LANGUAGE

4) RULE PASSION — FAITH — TRADITION AND ALL THINGS WITH

TEMPERED REASON

5) PROTECT PEOPLE AND NATIONS WITH FAIR LAWS AND JUST COURTS

6) LET ALL NATIONS RULE INTERNALLY RESOLVING EXTERNAL DISPUTES

IN A WORLD COURT

7) AVOID PETTY LAWS AND USELESS OFFICIALS

8) BALANCE PERSONAL RIGHTS WITH SOCIAL DUTIES.

9) PRIZE TRUTH — BEAUTY — LOVE — SEEKING HARMONY WITH THE

INFINITE

10) BE NOT A CANCER ON THE EARTH — LEAVE ROOM FOR NATURE —

LEAVE ROOM FOR NATURE

In conclusion the directives for these GEORGIA GUIDESTONES call for : a) b) c) Elimination of around 7 billion residents d) e) f) Control of how many people are born g) h) i) The return of the system of ONE LANGUAGE as it was during the construction j) k) of the TOWER OF BABEL l) m) n) The other goals seem to infer that there isn’t currently a choice available to us that o) p) can help us to be better people. And there is a choice. q) r) s) But as the prophecy said in Daniel , The Beast/Antichrist will not allow any other t) u) worship, but of himself.

Global Warming and all this false human-directed unity is designed to appeal to our

personal pride , our lustful flesh and our unsatisfied eyes. But we can’t save our

selves. We children need OUR FATHER GOD to fight for us against our evil older

brethren Satan (formerly known as Lucifer) and His Fallen Followers.

CHECK OUT THIS EYE-OPENING VIDEO ON THE SCAM SWINDLE OF GLOBAL WARMING 1) T

HE GREAT GLOBAL WARMING SWINDLE

- URL – [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMA6sszChwQ]

Revelations 11:18

And the nations were angry, and your wrath is here, and the time of the dead, that they

should be judged, and that you should give reward to your servants the prophets, and to

the saints, and them that fear your name, small and great; AND SHOULD DESTROY

THEM WHICH DESTROY THE EARTH.

- FEED YOURSELVES SUGGESTION -

WE ARE MAKING HUNDREDS WHILE GIVING AWAY BILLIONS TO OUR ECONOMIC SLAVE MASTERS !!!

THERE IS NO REASON WHY WE CAN'T TAKE CONTROL OF OUR OWN COUNTRY !

NEIGHBORHOOD COOP GREENHOUSES

ANOTHER SUGGESTION IS FOR THOSE LIVING IN THE CITY TO POOL

THEIR RESOURCES TOGETHER AND MAKE NEIGHBORHOOD COOP

GREENHOUSES . HERE YOU CAN GROW SOME KIND OF FOODS AND NOT

BE TOTALLY DEPENDENT ON GROCERY STORES.

Scientists Debunk UN “Global Warming” [ http://www.infowars.com/scientists-debunk-un-global-warming/ ]

WAKE UP ! STAY UP MY BROTHERS & SISTERS ! BE SELF-SUFFICIENT IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

[ libradio.net ] [http://www.infowars.com/infowars.asx] [gcnlive.com]

- Life Is a Game. Have Fun. [ Luke 18:17 / Isaiah 11:6 ]

SO PLEASE WAKE UP MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS. GOD IS ALL WE NEED. You are In My Prayers. God Bless Us. God Bless Africa.

Author: Steve Klaber
Sat Sep 5 02:22:39 2009

He (Meles Zenawi) is definitely right that the issue is policies and action rather than compensation. African economies do not need more foreign money. Foreign money favors importation over domestic production, and hurts your workers and businesses.

Africa's main climate problems can be more directly handled without outside help. Fix your waterways. Clear them of weeds and the silt the weeds produce. Picture the North African aquifers again watering their lands, Lake Chad and its tributaries all restored, the Sahel a healthier color, the Nile tributaries flowing copiously- All of that CAN BE! And with those things, an end to malaria and yellow fever, an end to Quelea infestations, and a sharp reduction in flooding. What is in the way is weeds and silt, millions of hectares of them. All of it is biomass waiting to be made into fuel.

See all comments (18).


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