Remarks · 18 February 2024
Thank you, your Excellency, for giving me the floor. Excellencies Heads of State and Government, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Committee of the African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) held its meeting yesterday afternoon, here at the AU Headquarters.
The committee discussed the outcomes of the recent COP28 that was held in Dubai, UAE, from 30th November to 13th December, 2023.
The committee appreciated that the COP28 outcomes aligned well with the positions of the African Leaders Nairobi Declaration on Climate Change and Call to Action that was adopted at the inaugural Africa Climate Summit held in Nairobi last September.
The committee welcomed the progress made at COP28 and the historic UAE Consensus outcome that included the unprecedented decision of “transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, and the “tripling renewables and doubling energy efficiency by 2030”.
In particular, the committee welcomed the operationalisation of the Loss and Damage Fund that was established at the African COP27 held at Sharm-El-Sheikh, Egypt, in 2023.
The committee appreciated that last year, the continent’s narrative on climate change made a significant shift with the embrace of Climate Positive Growth (CPG), as the new economic development paradigm for Africa, and also emphasised Africa as part of the solutions to the climate change challenge.
The committee received reports of various AU Climate Commissions under CAHOSCC including: a. The African Islands Climate Commission championed by Seychelles b. The Congo Basin Climate Commission championed the Republic of Congo, and c. The Climate Commission for the Sahel Region 8. The committee underscored the importance of Africa remaining actively engaged in the global effort towards the international financial reform agenda, and the various initiatives on debt sustainability and innovative financing. These will inform the agenda of COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, as well as the Summit of the Future.
Finally, the committee emphasised the importance of our commitment to work with the domestic and global institutional investment community to mobilise private capital at scale to realise the objectives of the Nairobi Declaration.
Excellencies, the report and decisions of the CAHOSCC meeting have been circulated for your consideration and adoption.
I take this opportunity to thank CAHOSCC members for their active participation and contribution to the outcome of the meeting.
Excellencies, I submit this report for the adoption and endorsement by the AU Assembly. I thank you.