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Introduction

Beryl Markham, the first aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic from London to North America, and who lived most of her life right here in Kenya, once said that Africa is a storehouse of primary and fundamental values but it is also an unfamiliar voice. On the issue of climate change, like so many global challenges, our duty is to ensure that Africa finds its voice, speaks with wisdom and authority, so that our African voice is heard.

As many colleagues will know, we have just arrived from a week in which South Africa focused firmly on climate change with two parallel national conferences to broaden our understanding of the science, the dangers, and the policy implications of this global reality. What was evident from the presentations of the esteemed scientists and experts are the observable threats posed to Africa by global climate change and projected temperature increases of between 0.7°C and 1.4°C.

Observed climatic changes are implicated in the declining populations of some indigenous African species, both on land and in the ocean, and especially in coral species on the east African tropical reef systems. African fisheries already count among the world’s most vulnerable fisheries * and in the face of climate change West and Central Africa show particularly high exposure and dependency, and low adaptive capacity. We are also witnessing the dieback of plant species like the quiver tree (Kokerboom), increased desertification, the retreat of the glacier on Kilimanjaro and we face the potential destabilisation of the Kalahari dune systems. Overall, the
projected impacts of climate change in Africa are overwhelmingly negative and it will have significant impacts on human livelihoods, health, water resources, agricultural production and food security, as well as nature-based tourism.

This meeting in Nairobi is of critical importance * providing our best chance to forge a common African position to be carried into Montreal in November. We must use this opportunity to give concrete content to the African position, and to ensure that the global response to climate change supports, rather than undermines, our ability to achieve shared economic growth, social upliftment, and the Millennium Development Goals.

Our approach is informed by the belief that all nations, developed and developing, must cooperate to address the challenges of climate change. Climate Change is an urgent global problem that requires a unified global response. Perhaps most importantly, the global, multilateral solution must more fully balance adaptation and mitigation, and must support sustainable development in all countries. In addition, we cannot allow our multilateral efforts to be undermined through regional or bilateral approaches.

We also need to forge, in the global community, a much better understanding of the unique African challenges. Tomorrow the Conference of the Parties (COP7) of the UNCCD is taking place here in Nairobi. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Report on desertification underlined the important link to climate change. Next year is also the International Year of Deserts and Desertification. With Africa holding the UNFCCC COP Presidency in 2006, it may be appropriate that COP12 includes a Ministerial dialogue on the linkages between climate change and desertification, and how we address this challenge together.

African Priorities for Montreal

As we approach Montreal, we have a clear understanding of the importance of adopting all 19 decisions required to successfully implement the Kyoto Protocol and more importantly to strengthen Kyoto through securing the carbon market, post 2012, by initiating the negotiations on the 2ndcommitment period (as legally mandated by Kyoto).

However, we also have a clear understanding that the strengthening of the Climate Change Convention is needed to provide the foundation for the strengthening of Kyoto. In this context, we have very high expectations that concrete content will be given to the Buenos Aires Programme of Work on Adaptation and Response Measures. A renewed international focus on adaptation and economic diversification is required to assist developing countries to deal with the impacts of climate change and the unintended consequences of climate change response measures. Developing countries also have a pressing need for streamlining the CDM to ensure that it becomes an effective mechanism to unlock financial resources and the transfer of
appropriate technology, on preferential terms.

In addition, Montreal must be the turning point in the activation and proper resourcing of the Special Climate Change Fund under the UNFCCC and the Adaptation Fund under the Kyoto Protocol.

Chair, we also have a high expectation that Montreal should introduce a process to set the direction for a more effective, flexible, enabling and inclusive global regime. The ideal regime should be the one that will work for both the developing and the developed world, taking into consideration the reality that there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution. Such a regime should include major developed country emitters like the USA and Australia, and provide for stronger emission capping on all Annex 1 emissions to ensure we meet our climate objectives, to help grow the carbon market and increase funding for technology transfer. We must also ensure that any future
responsibilities for developing countries, especially in Africa, are consistent with our capabilities and sustainable development objectives.

In building a more inclusive Kyoto-Plus regime, Africa should aim to help craft a Montreal Mandate that will specify clear timeframes for formal negotiations over the next few years under the UNFCCC. In addition to defining timeframes, such a mandate should also specify clear activities and set mile-stones to enable assessment of the programme.

Conclusion

In giving voice to Africa’s priorities and aspirations in Montreal it will be important for us to acknowledge that we too have a duty to do more. Our message must be that in order to do more we require, from developed countries, commitments to deeper emission reductions, improved technology transfer, capacity building, and new and additional financial support for developing nations for mitigation, adaptation and to counter the unintended economic and social consequences of global action on climate change.

South Africa, as a responsible global citizen, will play its part in the multilateral process and will in particular emphasise key issues of concern to the African continent.

Enquiries: Riaan Aucamp
Cell: 083-778-9923