African Anger at European Calls for 'New Mandate'

Civil society groups attack 'Durban Mandate' proposal as a 'great escape'

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA: Civil society leaders from across Africa, with support from global movements, launched a letter to climate negotiators that warns that focusing on launching a new mandate at the Durban talks risks backtracking on promises to the poor and the planet.

The letter calls on developed countries to urgently scale up the ambition of their emission reduction targets and reminds negotiators that current emission reduction pledges will lead us to a world that is 5°C warmer. For Africa, this means 7 or 8°C of warming and unimaginable human suffering.

Michele Maynard from the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) said: "Following what some delegates say you would think that the purpose of these negotiations was a 'new roadmap' - that's just not true. Of central and agreed importance is the need to negotiate deep emission cuts as a part of a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. Coming up with new 'mandates' and 'roadmaps' is a distraction from that very necessary action. It's also a breach of faith, in 2007 all countries agreed to do this."

"A climate agreement that does what is necessary to protect Africa is like cooking a good recipe. It needs just enough emission cuts and a dollop of finance and technology for responding to climate impacts. We've got the recipe from the Bali Action Plan, we've got all the ingredients, even started cutting up some of the vegetables, but now some people want to cook something else. That's a recipe for doing-nothing and delay."

"This letter is a clarion call to negotiators - you either see the science and recognize its urgency; or you don't. You either hear what the world's poorest people are saying and care; or you don't. Any outcome which locks in the current proposed emission cuts or puts off talking about how to bring those cuts into line with the science is utterly unacceptable."

The letter, signed by movements representing hundreds of organisations across Africa and the world, includes the follow quotations: "Agreeing to a new mandate that replaces the Kyoto Protocol would mean action is effectively delayed for five to ten years. A new treaty will take several years to negotiate with several more years needed for ratification. Further, there is no assurance that countries that have repudiated the existing legal architecture, like the United States, will agree to or ratify a new agreement, nor that such agreement will not be a weak and ineffective "pledge and review" system."

"While many developed countries seek to end the Kyoto Protocol, they simultaneously attempt to retain and expand their favored elements of the Kyoto Protocol, like the CDM, in a new agreement and shift their responsibilities onto developing countries. Without legally binding emission reductions under the Kyoto Protocol, developed countries must not be allowed to have access to the carbon markets."

A copy of the letter is available here.

The Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) is a continental coalition of civil society Organizations in the African continent, brought together by common goal of promoting and advocating for climate-friendly and equity-based development.

Currently drawing its membership from 300 Non-governmental organizations, Foundations, Trusts, Community-based organizations, faith-based networks, national coalitions and regional networks from 45 countries in Africa.

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G77 and China: Saving Tomorrow Today

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA: The opening of the Joint High Level Segment of the COP17/CMP7 in Durban was inaugurated by the President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, as well as the President of the Conference and Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Africa, Ms. Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and the Executive Secretary of UNFCCC, Ms. Christiana Figueres.

President Zuma highlighted that Durban is proving to be "a decisive moment" in the UNFCCC process, and called all parties to show flexibility in defense of the system. "We need to show the world that parties are ready to solve the problems in a practical manner and are willing to forgo national interest for the interest of humanity, no matter how difficult this may be".

The Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship of Argentina presented a statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, emphasizing the urgent need to address climate change, which for countries within the G77 and China is a matter of survival.

He added: "Developing countries are now more than ever experiencing the very real impacts of climate change, which are undermining our development prospects and aggravating preexisting vulnerabilities. This has been confirmed a few days ago by the Special Report (SREX) that was adopted by IPCC member governments, highlighting that fatality rates and economic losses expressed as a proportion of GDP are higher in developing countries."

The Vice Minister of Argentina made a strong appeal to all parties, "we believe this process has to deliver". He reiterated that the continuation of the Kyoto Protocol is the cornerstone of credible efforts in addressing climate change, i.e. a second commitment period that is fully legally binding and ratified. He added that further political commitment was needed to raise the level of ambition of developed countries pledges, in line with what is required by science, equity and historical responsibilities.

He reminded participants in the very crowded Baobab Plenary room that developing countries are already undertaking bold action in mitigation and adaptation activities, including with our own resources, in a scenario where the provisions of the Convention regarding the support of finance, technology transfer and capacity building by developed countries parties are far from being met. We are willing to do more, but the available international cooperation for national mitigation and adaptation actions clearly needs to be scaled up.

"We believe that resolve and progress in this front could be the key to a leap forward in mitigation actions by developing countries", added Vice Minister D'Alotto. Also, "setting in motion the Green Climate Fund created in Cancun must include its initial capitalization, from public financial resources as soon as possible, to appease the fears of an "empty shell" structure."

The Group of 77 and China expressed the hope and determination to make all needed efforts to achieve an outcome that is comprehensive and balanced, enabling the full, effective and sustained implementation of the Convention through long-term cooperative action now, up to and beyond 2012, pursuant to the results of the thirteenth and sixteenth sessions of the Conference of the Parties, addressing both implementation tasks and issues that are still to be concluded as per the agreed agenda. Such an outcome, on the basis of equity and taking into account the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, demands a decision on establishing the commitments of the second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol here in Durban.

"I don't think you want to disappoint the citizens of the globe", said President Zuma. We all agree that the Earth is in danger. The Group of 77 and China calls on all Parties to engage meaningfully and to stop attempts to water down the existing process under the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol and to resolutely move forward for their full implementation and strengthening.

As stated by Argentina on behalf of the Group of 77 and China at the session: "We are fully committed with you in "SAVING TOMORROW, TODAY."

The Group of 77 and China has been a key actor in international negotiations related to development issues since 1964. After the recent incorporation of Nauru on September 23rd, 2011, the Group now represents 132 developing countries.

The Chair of the Group, which rotates annually, is held in 2011 by Argentina, represented by Jorge Argüello, Permanent Representative of Argentina to the United Nations.

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African Agriculture Already Struggling From Climate Change

New report: Durban Talks Must Address Food Security

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA: New research reveals Africa will face significantly lower crop yields in the next 10 years as a result of increasing temperatures, threatening the food security of millions.

The new report on climate change and African agriculture, published by the African Climate Policy Centre (ACPC), the technical arm of the Climate for Development in Africa (ClimDev Africa) programme, based at the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), examined the extent of climate change impacts in Africa and their effects on food security, and found that even small temperature increases were likely to affect yields.

The report is published against the backdrop of the UN climate talks in Durban, South Africa, where future action to limit temperature increases is being discussed.

"This report provides an important context for the talks in Durban," Dr Seleshi Bekele, Senior Water and Climate Specialist at the ACPC said. "Agriculture is the lifeline and mainstay of livelihoods for three out of four Africans, and therefore adaptation to climate change in this critical sector is not an option but a necessity".

The report's author, Prof Doreen Stabinsky said "Global temperature rise must be limited urgently to avoid serious impacts on African agricultural production. International offset programmes, which provide a substitute for action in developed countries, are actually further threatening food security in Africa." She reiterated further that "African farmers and pastoralists are already seeing changes in the timing of rains, in the severity of rains, in temperatures, and in the progressive drying of their soils."

Recent research summarized in the report concluded that from 1980-2008, due to rising global temperatures, global maize and wheat yields have already decreased by 3.8% and 5.5% respectively.

"All of these impacts are being felt before we even see a temperature rise of 1°C," Stabinsky warned.

"African countries are highly vulnerable to climate change, and the agriculture sector is a good indicator of vulnerability given its importance to livelihoods and the economy. The impact that current and historic GHG emission is having on agriculture in Africa needs to be better understood in order for African negotiators to negotiate effectively, armed with the kind of information outlined in this report" said Seyni Nafo. Spokesperson of the African Group.

At the current rate of temperature increase, global average temperatures will have increased 1.5°C by 2050. Studies quoted in the report estimate average production losses by 2050 for African maize at 22%, sorghum 17%, millet 17%, groundnut 18%, and cassava 8%. "Warming as low as 1.5˚C threatens food production in Africa significantly." added Stabinsky.

The research also shows that warming over 1.5°C will mean severe crop loss, displacement of pastoralists and agricultural production, and dangerous impacts on food security for millions of people.

African governments should demand a work programme on agriculture under the Adaptation Framework, as recommended by the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment, both to ensure food security and address slow onset temperature rise and the yield declines that will follow, Stabinsky added.

The report covers many of the current and projected climate impacts in Africa, including:

• Impacts of extreme temperatures and slow onset temperature rise on crop yields;

• Global warming contributions to the Sahel and Horn of Africa droughts;

• Impacts on tea and cocoa production in Africa from changing climates; and

• Risk of continued emissions from Annex I countries for African agriculture.

NOTES

A copy of the report is available here

• The African Group is the group of 54 African countries represented in the UN climate change negotiations. It is chaired by Mr. Tosi Mpanu Mpanu of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

• The African Climate Policy Centre (ACPC) is a joint initiative of the African Union Commission (AUC), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB). The Centre is based in the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa

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