Why Africa Climate Week'22 was crucial to tackle Climate Change
By CCN News | Published: September 5, 2022
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Regional Climate Weeks play a significant role to combat Climate Change and to work as a catalyst between COPs
Africa, the second largest continent of our planet, was the destination for the third Regional Climate Week 2022, followed by COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt going to be in November 2022. The other two Climate Weeks were the Middle East and North Africa Climate Week hosted by the United Emirates (28-31 March) and Latin America and the Caribbean Climate Week by the Government of the Dominican Republic (18 -22 July).
Africa Climate Week 2022 was the platform to promote Regional collaborations, Engage communities, and Explore opportunities to address Climate Change. It was a six-day event starting from 28th August to 2nd September 2022.
Why Regional Climate Weeks are important
Regional integrations play a critical role in achieving Global objectives. It works as a catalyst to carry on with the same thrust. RCWs are the bridge between COPs where all stakeholders, including Governments, Non-government Organizations, Private, and Individuals, get together on a single platform to deal with Climate issues.
Annual Climate Conferences held in various Regions are categorized by The United Nations as Asia Pacific, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East.
Africa Climate Week 2022: A snapshot
ACW 2022 was focused on the exchange of knowledge and best practices followed by the regional implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and Global Climate Action (GCA).
The conference was organized by the United Nations- Climate Change in collaboration with global partners, including The United Nations Development Program (UNDP), United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), and The Word Bank Group (WBG).
Also, there were regional partners, The African Union, African Development Bank, United Nations Environment Committee for Africa, and The United Nations, Gabon. The event took place for about a week emphasizing Climate Finance, Youth-led Solutions, Indigenous knowledge, Policy Frameworks, Partnerships, and Resilience against Climate Risks.
The touchpoints from 28 Aug- 2 Sep
There was a series of interactive programs segmented into main sessions, action hubs, affiliate events, and side events.
Day1: The opening ceremony was followed by the ministerial roundtable on finance, and the emphasis was to accelerate the financial flow for the nature-based solutions for adaptation, coastal resilience through mangrove restoration, capacity building, enhancing climate actions through National Climate Funds, strengthening climate economy modeling for policy making, and strategize legal initiative to protect the climate.
Day 2: Several macro objectives were addressed on the second day of the event. It includes NDC target achievements, structure, and access to climate finance, adapting nature-based solutions, protecting the vulnerable, considering legal initiatives, policy making, and National Climate fund.
Day 3: Implementation and Strategies were the concerns during day three of ACW. Explore long-term plans, climate justice action, smart-forest management, innovative community practices, leveraging youth's potential, utilizing indigenous knowledge in agriculture, and youth-led solutions to water management were focus points.
Day 4: On the fourth day of ACW, there were several macro issues discussed, including methane emissions, technical analysis, Green finance and Investments, African youth, Sustainable Future, Renewable energy, etc.
Day 5: Empowering youth and enabling NDCs through partnerships and advocacy was the call to action.
Day 6: A Greener Future led by the strategic initiatives to reduce emissions (REDD+) was the hope leading Closing Ceremony of ACW 2022.
The effects of Climate Change in Africa
Africa accounts for around 7% of the World's CO2 emissions. The Green House Gas (GHG) Emissions per capita are 3.9 tons, yet this continent is hit severely by tropical cyclones, droughts, floods, and heat waves.
The continent is surrounded by the Mediterranean sea, the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Atlantic ocean. Over the decades, there are alterations in the Natural Ecosystem and Biodiversity of the Region.
More than 50% of the population in Africa is youth, therefore engaging youth for climate action and developing leadership amongst them were spotlights during the entire ACW.
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