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To enable countries in Africa access an annual global funding for climate change for developing countries estimated at $2.5 billon, there must be efforts to build capacity, cooperation and secured enviroment for private sector participation.
Consequently, Africa as continent must realise that it has become the first victim of climate change without really being responsible for it, and so all government must give it the priority it disserves to protect its citizens against future impacts.
This was the agreement reached by 22 African ministers and their representatives at the end of a Ministerial Round Table on “Water in Africa: Towards a Climate Justice” concluded Wednesday in Rabat, Morocco ahead of the 22nd Conference of Parties(COP22) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change billed for November in Marrakech, Morocco.
The agreement the ministers said would form their presentation, which gives Africa one voice to push its development goals as well as position water, a growing challenge in the continent in the heart of international climate negotiations during the COP22.
Charafat Afailal, minister of Water Resources of Morocco who spoke on behalf of other Ministers said there is need for solidarity and cooperation among African governments if they must make positive impacts not only in achieving development goals but also securing the future of its citizens.
“There must be south-south cooperation, capacity building for resource mobilisation as well as trans-border relations”.
She said there is need to form a one stop-shop for resource mobilisation to enable smaller and more vulnerable countries benefit from the funding for climate change.
This agreement, Afailal said is to enable Africa take a common position as a continent and give water priority consideration in climate change mitigation and adaptation mechanisms. It aims also to transmit to the parties at COP22 Marrakech a strong message from African countries, in order to ensure the mobilization of specific funds to accelerate access to water and sanitation services in the Continent.
Justifying the push for water agenda at the COP22 conference, the ministers said climate change impacts are manifested mostly through changes in the water cycle and the failure to address the relation between water and climate is putting our future at risk.
“Water and climate agendas should be integrated to improve profitability and then support the financial commitments for creating resilient societies and protected ecosystems, both to meet climate changes adaptation needs and to achieve the sustainable development goals.”
“This agreement will enable us establish a political momentum and a call for action for water to give a clear signal to all stakeholders for the implementation of practical actions for water, with commitments monitoring mechanism through the adoption of a priority action plan for water, Hachmi Kennou, governor world Water Council said.
Paris convention provides for financial assistance of Parties with priority access to more resources to countries with the least capacity and most vulnerable to climate change.
But despite the availability of funds and institutions financing actions to fight against climate change, some countries have difficulties accessing these financing flows, especially for adaptation projects.
This experts say have been largely due to inadequacy of the legal framework, the absence of a national strategy on climate change, the lack of technical and financial management competence in some countries increases the difficulty for them to access financing.
Modestus Anaesoronye
