CAIRO: Climate change is a global problem that needs a global answer. Moreover, the African continent is amongst the most vulnerable when it comes to climate change. Food security, sustainable water supply and extreme weather phenomena (floods, drought desertification) are major issues that require an African-EU joint effort, Global Arab Network reports according to a press statement. The two overarching priorities in the 2008–2010 Action Plan are: • Building a common agenda on climate change policies and cooperation • Fighting against land degradation and aridity including the Green wall for the Sahara initiative The scope of the partnership is unique. It aims at supporting a continental pan-African approach and response to the climate challenges. It is spelled out through concrete flagship initiatives and within the current negotiations for a global and comprehensive post-2012 climate agreement. Who will benefit from the partnership and how? The EU-Africa partnership aims at reducing the impact of climate change on African populations and on their environment. In particular, enhanced sustainable land management should help to increase economic growth and improve livelihoods of African rural populations. Farmers and the most vulnerable populations, with limited access to water and victims of food price volatility, will especially benefit from the partnership work. The partnership gathers all stakeholders in a position to contribute effectively to these objectives: • The African Union and European Union Member States • The African Union Commission and the European Commission • The African Development Bank • The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa • The African Regional Economic Communities that are responsible for climate and environment management issues • Non-state actors in both continents Progress has been achieved in certain priority areas where Europe and Africa are already working together: • Enhanced political dialogue and cooperation predominantly under the EU Global Climate Change Alliance • Reinforcement of African negotiators' capacities in international climate negotiations • Strengthening African possibilities to better exploit opportunities under the carbon market • Water resources management and adoption in the field of agriculture • Sustainable land management, fight against desertification and avoiding deforestation The following concrete deliverables can be highlighted: • The joint EU–Africa declaration on climate change adopted on December 2008 in Addis Ababa has provided concrete opportunities for cooperation and dialogue in relation to the negotiations in the run-up to the Copenhagen conference. This is continuing in the run up to the Cancun Conference (November 2010) and beyond • The channelling of €45M of EU financial support in the period 2008–2010 under the Global Climate Change Alliance initiative (GCCA). This financial support has been already provided to six African countries (Mali, Mauritius, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles and Tanzania). The programming of the GCCA 2010 interventions in Ethiopia and Mozambique is currently being finalised • GCCA interventions in Africa support the implementation of National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPA) priorities fostering climate resilience in the water management, rural development and agriculture sectors and enhancing institutional capacity to mainstream climate change into policy, regulatory and strategic development planning • A contribution of €8M has been provided in 2009 to the ClimDev Africa flagship initiative* and to the AU Commission climate change and desertification coordination efforts • Preparation of the Great Green Wall for the Sahara and Sahel Initiative implementation phase through crosssectoral actions aimed at sustainable management of natural resources The partnership is in its early operational phase. Capacity development of African stakeholders for climate purposes both at governmental and non governmental level remains the main priority and challenge to be addressed. It is also clear that involvement of the private sector and academia should be fostered. BM
