Addis Ababa, 25 June 2015 (ECA) - African, Caribbean and Pacific countries are meeting in Addis Ababa from June 30 to July 1 to propose a common position for the upcoming UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 21st Conference of Parties (COP 21) negotiations.
The two-day joint discussion, co-hosted by the Economic Commission for Africa’s African Climate Policy Centre and the European Union’s Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA), is expected to identify key issues and areas of common interest to include in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) common position.
The discussions serve as preparation for COP21 as delegates are expected to also agree on joint activities and initiatives to undertake during the climate change negotiations.
A key discussion area for the meeting includes the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs). These are country specific commitments and climate pledges that governments will make ahead of COP21. NDCs are expected to be instrumental in demonstrating countries’ intent to de-carnobize their economies at the national level.
This 2nd Intra-ACP Programme joint policy discussion will provide a forum for sharing of information on regional dialogues. The discussions will have a strong focus on improving the understanding of the effects of climate change and contributing to adaptation and mitigation responses.
The Intra-ACP Programme, a component of the GCCA, specifically targets the ACP group of States, helping them to better tackle the challenge posed by climate change on to their development.
The programme provides technical assistance and training on climate change mainstreaming. It finances ACP member states to support adaptation and mitigation actions at the national and regional levels.
The attendants will also share best practices among the ACP regional partners. Climate Smart Agriculture, Food Security and Climate data will also be among the discussion topics.
The meeting will be attended by climate change negotiators and policy officers representing the ACP regions: Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA); Comité permanent Inter-Etats de Lutte contre la Sécheresse dans le Sahel (CILSS); Secretariat of the PacificRegional Environment Programme (SPREP); Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC); Carribean Community Secretariat (CARICOM).
The Intra-ACP Programme discussion will be followed by the GCCA Intra-ACP 4th Programme Steering Committee (PSC) meeting from 2-3 July 2015.
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