Introduction

The main theme of the sixth annual Climate Change and Development in Africa (CCDA–VI) Conference organized under the auspices of the Climate Change and Development in Africa (ClimDev-Africa) programme, will be:  ‘The Paris Agreement on Climate Change: What Next for Africa?’ This builds on CCDA-V which, in the lead up to the 21^st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) - COP21, focused 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’.

Objective

The overall objective of CCDA-VI is to understand the implementation implications, nuances, challenges and opportunities of the Paris Agreement for Africa in the context of the continent’s development priorities. 

Specific objectives

1. Examine the implications of the Paris Agreement on Africa’s future economic growth and sustainable development agenda
2. Deepen understanding of the nuances in the decisions of COP21, particularly with regard to  means of implementation (capacity, finance and technology transfer), as well the domestication of the agreement in Africa in alignment with national development priorities of African countries
3. Identify strategies for implementing the agreement especially through pan-African initiatives and institutions, and employing public-private partnerships and the engagement of state and non-state actors 
4. Provide a solution space for innovation, and a platform for dialogue between state and non-state actors,
5. Facilitate networking between climate and development stakeholders
6. Provide a platform to raise awareness on the importance of climate information service (CIS) and enhance its uptake in development policy processes.
7. Explore new and evolving challenges in Africa related to climate change

 
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Africa urged to address challenges that may affect Paris Agreement implementation

CCDA-VI in Africa to discuss the implications of implementing the Paris Agreement