African Ministers meet for 10th Special Session of AMCEN, UNCCD COP16 Regional Consultations

Asempa Dawuro

Aug 31, 2024 - 11:11

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African Ministers meet for 10th Special Session of AMCEN, UNCCD COP16 Regional Consultations

Adu Gyamfi Odopa, Accra (gyamemma5@gmail.com)

• Raising Africa’s Ambition to Reduce Land Degradation, Desertification, and Drought

The 10th special session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) and regional consultations for the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is ongoing in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, from 30 August to 6 September 2024.

It is under the theme, "raising Africa’s Ambition to Reduce Land Degradation, Desertification, and Drought".

The theme envisages a renewed commitment by Member States, partners, and stakeholders to increase investments in adaptation, degradation, and desertification in Africa, and in turn, enhance the resilience of the continent’s people to the effects of drought.

The session aims to further the contribution of the Conference to the region’s environment and sustainable development agenda, including strengthening efforts to mitigate droughts in Africa,

assessing the progress of land degradation neutrality and enhancing opportunities for ecosystems restoration, and identifying and strengthening synergies to mobilize funds to address these challenges.

Notable Guests at the meeting include H.E. Robert Beugré Mambé, Prime Minister, Cote d’Ivoire, H.E. Dr. Fitsum Assefa Adela, Minister of Planning and Development of Ethiopia and President of AMCEN, Africa’s Ministers of Environment and Ms Inger Andersen, Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme.

Others are Mr Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary, UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Ms Correa Leonel Josefa, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, African Union Commission and Mr Akinwumi A. Adesina, President, African Development Bank Group.

The rest are Mr Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Ms Astrid Schomaker Executive Secretary, United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, Mr Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, CEO and Chairperson, Global Environmental Facility.

Ms Musonda Mumba, Secretary General, Ramsar Convention and other UN Agencies, civil society, and major development partners will also be in attendance.

The 10th special session will be an opportunity for ministers to provide policy guidance for Africa’s preparation and participation in upcoming key environmental events, including the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 16) and the UN Framework Climate Change Conference (COP 29).

The rest are the 5th session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, (INC 5) and the UNCCD 16th session of the Conference.

The Atlas of Africa Natural Capital, developed in response to AMCEN's requests, will also be launched at the 10th special session.

This Atlas provides a comprehensive overview of Africa's natural resources and emphasizes their importance for economic growth and human well-being.

By incorporating natural capital into decision-making, the Atlas supports AMCEN's goals of sustainable development and equitable resource use.

Following the launch, a ministerial round table will discuss policies to protect Africa's natural capital, particularly land - based resources, contributing to the session's focus on combating land degradation, desertification, and drought.

The African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) sets the environmental agenda in Africa. Established in 1985, the Conference brings together African governments, institutions and development partners to craft polices aimed at tackling the continent’s most pressing environmental issues.

Its mandate is to provide advocacy for environmental protection in Africa; to ensure that basic human needs are met adequately and in a sustainable manner; to ensure that social and economic development is realized at all levels; and to ensure that agricultural activities and practices meet the food security needs of the region.

The African Ministerial Conference on the Environment holds its ordinary sessions once every two years and special sessions between ordinary sessions when necessary.

The Africa Office of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) serves as the secretariat for the Conference. About UNEP The United Nations Environment Programme is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is an international agreement on good land stewardship.

It helps people, communities and countries create wealth, grow economies and secure enough food, clean water and energy by ensuring land users an enabling environment for sustainable land management.

Through partnerships, the Convention’s 197 parties set up robust systems to manage drought promptly and effectively.

Good land stewardship based on sound policy and science helps integrate and accelerate achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, builds resilience to climate change and prevents biodiversity loss.

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