Previous Conferences

Climate Change and Development in Africa (CCDA–VI) Conference - The Paris Agreement: What next for Africa?

17-20 October 2016, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Introduction

The main theme of this year’s conference is ‘The Paris Climate Agreement: What Next for Africa?’ It builds on CCDA-V whose focus was on revisiting Article 2 of the UNFCCC, with a theme that dwelled on “Africa, Climate Change and Sustainable Development: What is at stake at Paris and beyond”. Reviewing the Paris Agreement, thus, allows for a contextual analysis of what was at stake for Africa prior to COP21 and what the agreement offers, thereby contributing to strategic orientation for African countries in moving forward with the implementation of the agreement.

As a forum tailored to facilitate science-policy dialogue and provide a marketplace for innovative solutions that integrates climate change into development processes, it is important to engage and embrace the Paris Climate Agreement within the framework of Africa’s development aspirations as underscored in Agenda 2063 that embodies the vision of the ‘Africa we want’ and Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development that set global targets with a vision of ‘leaving no one behind’. Read More...

Climate Change and Development in Africa (CCDA–V) Conference - Africa, climate change and sustainable development: what is at stake at Paris and beyond?

28-30 October 2015, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Introduction

The Climate Change and Development in Africa (CCDA) conference series was conceived as an annual forum to enable linkages between climate science and development policy by promoting transparent discussions between key stakeholders in the climate and development community. CCDA seeks to mainstream climate information into decision making and strengthen capacities focusing on climate sensitive sectors such as agriculture, food security, energy and transport. To support Africa's towards better preparedness for COP21, this year's conference theme is "Africa, climate change and sustainable development:  what is at stake at Paris and beyond?". The event will be convened at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe from 28-30 October 2015. Read More...

Climate Change and Development in Africa (CCDA–IV) Conference - Africa Can Feed Africa Now: Translating Climate Knowledge into Action

8-10 October 2014, Marrakesh, Morocco

Introduction

The fourth edition of the Conference (CCDA-IV) will be convened in Marrakesh, Morocco from 8-10 October 2014 on the theme: "Africa Can Feed Africa Now: Translating Climate Knowledge into Action". The theme selection is in recognition of 2014 as the year of agriculture. For this reason, the spotlight will be on climate knowledge opportunities that can transform agricultural production systems to feed Africa sustainably.

The Climate Change and Development in Africa (CCDA) conference series is a policy influencing space organized each year under the auspices of the Climate for Development in Africa (ClimDev-Africa) Programme. ClimDev-Africa is a consortium of three leading pan-African institutions i.e. the African Union Commission (AUC), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB). Read More...

Third Conference on Climate Change and Development in Africa (CCDA-III) - Africa on the rise : can the opportunities from climate change spring the continent to transformative development?

21-23 October, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Introduction

Africa’s economic progress since the start of the 21st century has been on a positive trajectory, underscoring the huge potential that the continent has to improve the welfare of its populations and lift millions out of poverty. At a macro level, many African countries have embarked on conscious economic and political transformation and are implementing strategies and programmes aimed at promoting economic growth, poverty reduction and general improvement of citizens’ welfare. However, sustaining the momentum would require African countries to studiously confront a number of challenges. Climate change represents a fundamental challenge to the sustainability of Africa’s growth momentum. It is imperative therefore that African countries invest in mechanisms that would mainstream climate change into their development strategies to stave off its possible negative impacts. Commensurate efforts must also be made to identify and exploit the opportunities that climate change presents. To achieve this, there must be a concerted effort by all key players. Climate and social scientists, development economists, policy makers and users of climate information must all work in tandem to design innovative strategies. Read More...

Conference on Climate Change and Development in Africa (CCDA II) - Advancing Knowledge, Policy and Practice on Climate Change and Development

19-20 October, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Introduction

Climate change poses a severe threat to the development plans and priorities of African countries. More concretely, efforts in poverty reduction, enhanced access to water and modern energy services, infrastructure development, and improved agricultural productivity to meet the needs of a growing population are likely to be affected by a changing climate. Without adaptation to, and mitigation of climate change impacts Africa’s overall development as well as its current positive economic progress are likely to be stalled.

The 4th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)[1] projects future warming across the continent in the range of 0.2oC (low scenario) to 0.5oC (high scenario) per decade up to the year 2100. This suggests an increase in climate-related ‘shocks’ in the region including droughts, storms, flooding, extremes of temperatures and rising sea levels. The last Special Report on Extreme Events (SREX) of the IPCC[2] also highlighted the importance of addressing both exposure and vulnerability of several key sectors like agriculture and food security, water supply, energy security, regional security and migration, healthcare, and biodiversity to extreme events in Africa. Read More...

First Conference on Climate Change and Development in Africa (CCDA-I)

17-19 October, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Introduction

The overall objective of the conference is to establish a forum for dialogue, enhance awareness raising, mobilize effective commitment and actions through bringing together policy makers, academicians and practicing stakeholder with the aim of effectively mainstreaming climate change concerns into development policies, strategies, programmes and practices in Africa.

CCDA also aims to strengthen Africa’s position and participation in international climate change negotiations with a view to ensuring adequate reflection of the continent’s concerns and priorities in a post‐2012 international climate change regime.

The CCDA conference builds directly on the African Development Forum VII; AfricaAdapt symposium, and many African and other forums, initiatives, and activities and outcomes of initiatives including for example the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN); the Conference of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC); the UNFCCC and related instruments; The United Nations Secretary General’s Highlevel Advisory Group on Climate Change Financing (AGF); the Global Climate Observation System (GCOS) and its sub‐regional climate programme; and the Africa‐EU Climate Change Partnership. The conference will help position the ClimDev Africa programme within this evolving knowledge and institutional terrain and how best it can facilitate the interaction between the policy, research and practice communities. Read More...