VIOLET MENGO
20 November 2013
Africa faces huge financial challenges in adapting to climate change, according to a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report launched yesterday.
The report spells out the costs that will be faced if governments fail to close the greenhouse gas “emissions gap” between current 2020 emissions reduction pledges and what’s needed to keep warming below 2°C.
Due to current climate change caused by past emissions, Africa is already committed to adaptation costs in the range of US$7 to 15 billion per year by 2020.
These costs will rise rapidly after 2020, since higher levels of warming result in higher costs and damages.
While addressing the Conference of Parties this morning at COP19/CMP9 in Warsaw, Zambia’s Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Harry Kalaba highlighted among other things the need for a clear pathway on long term finance, institutional mechanism to address loss and damage, adaptation, mitigation technology and capacity building.
Meanwhile, tomorrow 21 November is an important day for cities and regions as they gather for the first ever “Cities Day” at the on-going UN Warsaw Climate Conference (COP19/CMP9).
A joint initiative of the COP Presidency, the UNFCCC Secretariat, the City of Warsaw, ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability and partners, the “Cities Day” bundles a series of city-focused events that will showcase and spark local climate action.
The Cities Day will kick off with a dialogue between Mayors and Ministers on how cities can contribute to global efforts on scaling up climate actions.
This will be followed by ICLEI’s session on raising the level of ambition through local climate action and UNFCCC’s Momentum for Change Urban Poor Pillar Lighthouse Activities.