The EU and India have adopted a historic Leaders’ Joint Statement on clean energy and climate change. The statement was endorsed by leaders at the EU-India summit in Delhi on Friday, October 6, 2017.
European Commissioner for climate action and energy, Miguel Arias Cañete
India and the EU are major players in the clean energy transition and the global efforts to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change. Both have been instrumental in the swift ratification of the Paris Agreement.
European Commissioner for climate action and energy, Miguel Arias Cañete, said: “This first-ever statement is testimony of our highest political commitment to the Paris Agreement and the clean energy transition. Today, the EU and India are joining forces to help put the Paris Agreement into practice and bolster energy cooperation, including new fields of cooperation on energy efficiency, smart grids and low-emissions mobility. By working together, we can make a difference and jointly lead the global clean energy race.”
Building on the ratification of the Paris Agreement and the Joint Declaration on a Clean Energy and Climate Partnership adopted in 2016, both sides consider climate action and the clean energy transition as an imperative for the future development of their societies.
They confirmed their commitments under the Paris Agreement and agreed to step up cooperation to enhance its implementation and meet its ambitious goals.
They welcomed the progress on the Clean Energy and Climate Partnership since last year’s summit and reaffirmed their commitment to the ongoing cooperation on renewable energy, smart grids, energy efficiency and the cost-effective deployment of offshore wind energy in India.
The EU and India agreed to further develop the Partnership, notably through facilitating EU-India business-to-business interaction on the implementation of climate action commitments and the clean energy sector and through expanding the cooperation to other areas including green cooling, solar pumping, energy storage and advanced biofuels.
There is a clear window of opportunity to develop and establish a strong partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to enhance resilience to climate change. Building on existing dialogue, the EU and India will pursue constructive collaboration on the implementation of India’s national climate plan. Upcoming events in this context include expert meetings, conferences and a study visit to Europe for Indian officials.
Furthermore, the EU and India will work together to advance the implementation of the International Solar Alliance launched at the Paris climate conference (COP21) in 2015. In this context, they intend to cooperate on approaches to de-risk financing of clean energy investment.
Ministers and Heads of Delegation from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) group on Thursday, October 5, 2017 met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to discuss the priorities of the LDC group in preparation for the international climate negotiations scheduled for Bonn, Germany in November 2017.
Chair of the Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group, Gebru Jember Endalew
Chair of the LDC Group, Mr. Gebru Jember Endalew, described the meeting as “very successful”, with Ministers discussing all of the key issues of the negotiations and expressing their countries’ dedication to ambitious climate action.
He said: “Today, Ministers from across the world’s 47 poorest countries have demonstrated how LDCs are continuing to take the lead on ambitious climate action, pursuing sustainable, low carbon and climate resilient pathways to protect our people and our planet.
“It is clear that LDCs face unique and unprecedented challenges in working to lift our people out of poverty while achieving sustainable development. Ministers here in Addis Ababa have identified the need for global solidarity and the support of the international community to help LDCs achieve our ambitious climate plans. Ministers have also highlighted that the global response to climate change must be fair and equitable, with countries acting in a manner that is consistent with their responsibility for climate change and capacity to respond.
“Under the Paris Agreement the world has laid out a vision for achieving a greener, healthier and brighter future for all – the LDCs hope that the upcoming negotiations will generate finance and other support to ensure all countries of the world can make this vision a reality.”
According to him, the LDC group is fully committed to supporting Fiji – the first island nation to hold the presidency of the Conference of the Parties – to reach successful outcomes this November.
At the close of Addis Ababa meeting, delegates issued a Communique, as well as Key Messages for COP 23.
Addis-Ababa LDC Ministerial Communiqué on Climate Change
We, the Ministers and Heads of Delegation of the Least Developed Country Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), having met in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia, on 5 October 2017 in preparation for the 23rd Session of Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC to be presided over by the Government of Fiji in November 2017 (COP23):
Affirm that the global response to climate change must be fair and equitable to advance the interests and aspirations of poor and vulnerable countries and peoples;
Note with serious concern that the adverse impacts of climate change continue to worsen, as experienced through severe droughts and unprecedented rainfalls, storms and flooding around the world this year, particularly in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean, resulting in great loss of life and tens of billions of dollars in damage to economies and infrastructure;
Emphasise that scientific research increasingly attributes the occurrence of heat extremes, drought, flooding, sea level rise and other slow onset and extreme events to human-induced climate change;
Further emphasise that this decade and the last four years have been the hottest in recorded history as global temperatures continue to rise year-on-year;
Note with continued concern the large gap between the level of ambition needed to reach the long-term goal of pursuing efforts to limit warming to below 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and the current low level of ambition that is projected to result in an increase of at least 2.8°C in global temperature by 2100, even with the full implementation of current emission reduction pledges and commitments;
Encouraged by the 170 Parties that have ratified the Paris Agreement and urge all countries that have not yet done so to ratify as soon as possible;
Appreciate the recent announcements by many countries of renewed political commitment to the Paris Agreement despite the challenging political context, and recognise the value of this leadership to the UNFCCC process;
Re-emphasise the need for higher climate ambition by all countries in a manner that is consistent with their responsibility for climate change and capacity to respond, in order to close the emissions gap to avoid further devastating climate change impacts;
Affirm our commitment to continue to lead on ambitious climate action in our countries; accelerating the transition to low carbon, climate resilient development to protect our citizens and sustain our economies;
Emphasise that as Least Developed Countries (LDCs) we face the unique and unprecedented challenge of lifting our people out of poverty while achieving sustainable development without relying on fossil fuels and therefore global solidarity and the support of the international community are critical for the achievement of our ambitious climate plans;
Further emphasise that for an equitable and effective global transition to a zero-carbon society, the LDCs must be supported to deliver and implement the ambitious climate commitments in our Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and other climate plans;
Call on all Parties to the Paris Agreement to communicate new and updated NDCs before 2020 with a view to increasing their contributions and addressing the current ambition gap, and to be informed by the outputs of the facilitative dialogue to be convened in 2018;
Welcome the mid-century, long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies communicated by some Parties, and call on all Parties to do the same by 2020;
Commit to developing long-term climate strategies and call for developed countries and international partners to support this process;
Reiterate that adaptation and loss and damage are crucial components of the global response to climate change, especially for LDCs which are particularly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change, and that there is a need to support developing countries in addressing current and future climate change impacts;
Stress that climate action enables the delivery of the full range of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and that coherent integration of NDCs and SDGs into national economic planning is a priority for all Parties;
Urge all developed country Parties to support LDCs in implementing their national climate change policies, measures and strategies, by fully implementing commitments relating to financial, capacity building and technological support;
Note with concern that trillions of dollars in climate finance is required to implement the NDCs of developing countries. Over USD 200 billion is needed only for LDC adaptation actions costed to date, recognising that some LDCs have only partially costed their needs or not costed them at all;
Further note with serious concern the limited resources available under the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) for immediate climate adaptation actions and call for urgent contributions to the LDCF;
Stress the need for facilitating access to climate finance by further streamlining and simplifying the application, approval and disbursement processes of the Green Climate Fund and the Global Environment Facility;
Further stress that a decision must be taken at COP23 to fully integrate the Adaptation Fund into the Paris Agreement architecture;
Express the readiness of all LDCs to formulate National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) by 2020;
Call on developed country Parties and all international partners to provide support to the LDCs to formulate NAPs and implement their actions;
Note with concern the lack of progress in phasing out fossil fuel subsidies, particularly in those countries that have pledged to eliminate them in the context of the global transition to net zero emissions by mid-century required to achieve the long-term temperature goal;
Further urge all international partners to provide support to LDCs in the spirit of the Istanbul Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries to ensure all LDCs engage effectively in low emission and climate resilient development that will protect the lives of our populations, economies and systems;
Reassert the urgent need for technology development and transfer to enable developing countries, and in particular the LDCs, to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to the impacts of climate change;
Stress the need for capacity building to enhance knowledge and awareness, and enable the LDCs to implement climate change actions;
Further stress that the LDC Group fully supports the adoption of a robust gender action plan at COP23;
Recognise that the global uptake of renewable energy and energy efficient technology needs to happen more rapidly and that developing countries need greater financial and technical support to reap the benefits of these technologies in the context of low emission sustainable development;
Welcome progress on, andremain committed to taking forward the LDC Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Initiative for Sustainable Development and urge the global community to support the LDCs in implementing this Initiative;
Remain committed to collective effort to progress the negotiations on the work programme of the Paris Agreement and full and active engagement for achieving successful outcomes at COP23;
Remain committed to completing the work programme and the adoption of the rules of the Paris Agreement at the first session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement in 2018 as agreed at COP21;
Further call on all Parties to the Kyoto Protocol to urgently ratify the Doha Amendment to bring the Kyoto Protocol’s second commitment period into force;
Encourage all countries to ratify the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol;
Endorse the key messages of the LDC Group in the context of COP23, as contained in the annex to this communiqué;
Thank the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia for the great hospitality and facilitation of this important LDC ministerial meeting.
Issued this 05 October 2017 in Addis-Ababa, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Key messages of the LDC Group for COP 23
General
The urgency of action on climate change has never been clearer. The world has experienced devastating events exacerbated by climate change over the past year, creating irreversible loss and damage.
The 47 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) have contributed negligible emissions but feel the impacts of climate change acutely due to their low social and economic development and severe capacity constraints.
The full implementation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement by all Parties is vital to protect present and future generations in LDCs and across the world. This demands fair, equitable and ambitious action by all Parties that is proportionate to the scale of the challenge before us, including in the pre-2020 period.
The Paris Agreement was the culmination of a global effort and groundswell of momentum to effectively address climate change. Eighty-five percent of all countries have ratified the Paris Agreement and some LDCs have communicated ambitious climate plans beyond their fair share.
Any decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement or decrease ambition in communicated climate action plans will severely damage the global solidarity achieved.
An effective global response to climate change is inextricably linked to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as climate change creates new and additional costs that exacerbate existing development challenges. Achieving a low-emissions and resilient future can simultaneously lift vulnerable communities in LDCs and across the world out of poverty.
Mitigation
The current level of global ambition does not put us on a track to limit average global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Parties must commit to more ambitious emission reduction targets and urgently peak global emissions to close the mitigation gap and secure emission pathways consistent with limiting global temperature rise to below 1.5°C.
Parties should raise their ambition on action and support through revision of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) before 2020 in a manner that is consistent with their responsibility and capacity to respond.
Urgent emission reductions are vital to minimise adverse impacts on LDCs and vulnerable populations by reducing the future cost of for adaptation and minimising unavoidable loss and damage.
Accelerated financial, capacity building and technological support is urgently needed for developing countries, in particular for LDCs, to enhance mitigation action.
By the end of 23rd Session of Conference of the Parties, the process for the 2018 Facilitative Dialogue must be clearly laid out. The Facilitative Dialogue must provide collective guidance on the global effort needed to put the world on a pathway to below 1.5°C of temperature increase by informing the ambition of the Parties’ NDCs.
The use of internationally transferred mitigation outcomes must ensure environmental integrity, must relate to emissions reductions included in NDCs that are quantified and measured against an absolute baseline or baseline scenario and must be in line with accounting guidance developed under Article 4 of the Paris Agreement.
Adaptation
Adaptation must be addressed in a balanced manner with mitigation, with respect to both action and support and with a view to achieving the global goal on adaptation.
LDCs need further financial, technological and capacity building support in planning, developing and implementing their national adaptation plans and other adaptation actions.
The Adaptation Fund has been a strong pillar in promoting and generating experience towards concrete adaptation actions in developing countries and needs to be fully integrated into the Paris Agreement architecture.
Loss and damage
Loss and damage is a crucial component of the global response to climate change and an important part of the Paris Agreement.
The LDCs have limited financial, technological, human and institutional capacities to deal with loss and damage arising from the impacts of climate change.
Scaled up financial support for loss and damage is urgently required, including a permanent source of finance and delivery mechanism.
Loss and damage needs to be incorporated into all relevant processes under the Paris Agreement, including the enhanced transparency framework and the global stocktake.
The Warsaw International Mechanism on Loss and Damage must be enabled to address broader loss and damage issues.
Climate finance
Climate finance is key to the implementation of the Convention, Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. The Convention and the Paris Agreement clearly recognise the special circumstances and needs of the LDCs and this recognition must be adhered to in every delivery mechanism of the climate finance.
Developed countries must fully implement their commitment to mobilise USD 100 billion per year by 2020. Clear pathways to meeting the targets are missing and urgent scaling up of the funding is needed.
Accessible, adequate, predictable and sustainable climate finance for developing countries is essential and should be allocated between adaptation and mitigation in a balanced manner. This finance must also be new and additional to existing to Official Development Assistance, and should be filled primarily from public sources and be grant-based.
Funds such as the Green Climate Fund and the Global Environment Facility must simplify the application, approval and disbursement processes, particularly for LDCs.
The Least Developed Countries Fund is a dedicated source of funding for LDCs and needs to be adequately resourced. This fund remains severely under resourced.
Technology
Access to environmentally sound technology is indispensable to LDCs and other developing countries to enable emission reductions and adaptation to the impacts of climate change.
All LDCs must be supported to develop and implement technology related plans and strategies.
Increased funding that is earmarked for technology development and transfer is needed to access mitigation and adaptation technologies, and support innovation, the enhancement of endogenous technologies and collaborative approaches to research and development.
The Green Climate Fund and the Global Environment Facility need to elaborate simplified procedures to enable LDCs to access financial support for technology development and transfer and build the capacity of LDCs to access these funds.
The bureaucratic procedure of the Climate Technology Centre and Network in handling requests from Parties should be reviewed and simplified to enable quick responses.
Capacity building
It is important to address the significant capacity gaps in LDCs for the effective implementation of climate actions, including for the elaboration, update and implementation of NDCs, formulation and implementation of National Adaptation Plans, mobilisation of climate finance and means of implementation.
The establishment of the Paris Committee on Capacity Building was a milestone in addressing gaps and needs in implementing capacity-building and further enhancing capacity-building efforts in a holistic and coherent manner.
Gender
Gender is a cross-cutting issue that needs to be mainstreamed across all areas of climate change responses and actions.
The empowerment of women will significantly enhance the effectiveness of adaptation and mitigation efforts at all levels and advance the SDGs and broader development objectives.
Transparency of action and support
The enhanced transparency framework is the backbone of the Paris Agreement’s architecture for raising ambition over time.
The framework must build trust and confidence among Parties, promote effective implementation and provide reliable information to take stock of the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
The framework must provide an accurate and reliable picture of what each Party is doing to address climate change and its impacts through action and support.
Support is essential for enabling developing countries to meet their reporting obligations.
The framework should avoid placing undue reporting burdens on developing countries without compromising the reliability of the information or the integrity of the transparency system.
Global stocktake
The global stocktake is an important component of the Paris Agreement’s mechanism to scale up fair and ambitious actionthat is consistent with equity and the best available science.
The outcome of the global stocktake must lead to Parties taking the necessary actions to put the world on track to limit the increases in global average temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and address the adverse impacts of climate change.
To effectively take stock of implementation of the Paris Agreement, the global stocktake must be holistic – reviewing all elements of the Agreement, including loss and damage.
Facilitating implementation and promoting compliance
The mechanism for facilitating implementation and promoting compliance have a vital role to play in ensuring the effectiveness of the Agreement and the implementation of efforts to address climate change under the Agreement.
The mechanism should ensure the integrity of the Paris Agreement by helping Parties to implement the Agreement while encouraging compliance with their obligations.
Some consumers of bushmeat in Bayelsa State on Sunday, October 9, 2017 said that they were not worried by the outbreak of Monkey Pox, a viral disease transmitted from wild animals to humans.
Bushmeat on display for sale
The disease was reported a forthnight ago and was said to have affected no fewer than 13 people in the state, according to Prof Ebitimitula Etebu, Bayelsa Commisioner of Health.
Etebu, who assured that the situation was under control, urged residents to be vigilant and wash hands after contact with wild animals, who are the primary vectors for the Monkey Pox virus.
The citizens were also warned against eating bush meat, a delicacy to many people in the state, as it is suspected to be one of the sources of contracting the disease.
Howevr, some of the residents, who spoke on the advice from medical experts to curb the spread of the virus, urged the government to lay emphasis on hygiene and not to blacklist bushmeat.
Investigations in Yenagoa and Ogbia areas in Bayelsa on Sunday indicate that business is still thriving at bushmeat joints and restaurants that serve the delicacy.
Some of the restaurants in Yenagoa and Otuoke, that serve bushmeat, which were visited were found to still be enjoying patronage despite warning from health practioners.
Mr Endurance Frank said he was still eating bush meat, and dismissed the views that eating the delicacy posses risk of contacting Monkey Pox, adding that he did not believe that the disease was caused through eating bush meat.
“This is how they said Ebola is caused by bush meat. We wash ours here and cook it very well, the government officials who are handling the campaign against the disease should not use their job to kill the business of others.
“It is common knowledge that when bushmeat is cooked well no virus can survive it, so their message should rather be on advising people to ensure they cook bushmeat properly and the same is true for all types of meat.
“Even medical doctors from Federal Medical Centre, Otuoke outreach come here in Nikky’s Bar.
“So why do they still come even as at Friday night, they were here and we enjoyed bushmeat together,” Frank said.
He urged the Federal Government to support those that have been isolated and ensure that the public is encouraged to maintain high hygiene standards as a preventive measure.
Another resident, who patronises bushmeat joints, Mr Felix Okpu, said even the outbreak of the disease would not deter him from eating bushmeat, adding that he was going to have his bushmeat delicacy at his favourite restaurant in Yenagoa.
“I must commend Bayelsa government for taking steps to curb the disease, but it is not enough to say that bushmeat is the cause rather they should educate people on how to handle meat generally and not single out bushmeat which is our favourite here in Bayelsa,” he said.
Mrs Ogidobor Digha, who operates a bushmeat bar in Otuoke, said her business was still thriving and yet to be affected by the outbreak of the Monkey Pox disease.
She said that local hunters who supply her with assorted bushmeat still supply her with bush meat.
“I believe the disease is not caused by the bushmeat in our bush here. Bushmeat cannot be transmitting such disease in our environment here, and also we take extracare in preparing and handling the meat and also we allow it to cook properly,” she said.
The Monkey Pox epidemic, first detected in Bayelsa State, appears to have spread to neighbouring south-south states as there a confirmed case of the epidemic in Akwa Ibom State.
Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State
One confirmed case has been recorded in the state, while two other suspected cases are under investigation.
This latest outbreak was confirmed in a statement by the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Charles Udoh. The disease, which has no known treatment or vaccine, is said to exhibit similar symptoms to smallpox, but it is milder, and larger rashes appear on the skin.
Udoh warned residents to avoid excessive handshakes and abstain from eating bush meat. Regular handwashing is also advised.
The first reported cases of the Monkey Pox outbreak were recorded in the Fangbe area of Bayelsa State on October 5, where 13 people were hospitalised and 49 suspected cases quarantined.
In a related development, the Federal Government has described as fake and sinister the report that the outbreak of Monkey Pox in some parts of the country resulted from the alleged free medical care by the government in the affected areas.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, October 9, 3017, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said Nigerians should disregard the report which, apparently, is being spread by some unscrupulous persons to fit into a sinister agenda.
“The Federal Government has not conducted any free medical service or care in either Bayelsa or Rivers state as alleged in the fake report being circulated. So that could not have been the cause of the outbreak of Monkey Pox in both states.
“Monkey Pox is a virus found only in monkeys and it is rare in human beings. It belongs to the same family as Chicken Pox and Smallpox.
“It is suspected that someone may have contacted it by eating monkey meat, thus triggering the current outbreak,” the Minister said.
He assured that no effort would be spared in curtailing the spread of the disease.
As African countries benefit from numerous global climate finance facilities, Nigeria is striving to join the group.
Dr Peter Tarfa, Director, Department of Climate Change, speaking at the event
Just recently, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) disclosed that Senegal, Egypt and Ethiopia are part of a team of 12 beneficiary developing nations to access a total $392.86 million in funding to assist them respond to climate change.
But Nigeria is also hoping to be a recipient of the funding, if recent submissions by federal officials are anything to go by.
“We are putting great efforts to access global climate finance through the development of a Nigeria National Readiness for accessing the GCF and is in this regard we are developing pipeline of projects to be submitted to the GCF for funding,” disclosed Dr Shehu Ahmed, Parmanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Environment, in Abuja on Wednesday, October 4, 2017 during a Stakeholders National Preparatory Meeting Towards the 23rd Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP23) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) holding November 6 to 17 in Bonn, Germany.
Dr Ahmed, who was represented by Dr Peter Tarfa, Director, Department of Climate Change, in an opening remark, stressed that, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, the Federal Ministry of Environment is at the threshold of the launch of the Sovereign Green Bond.
His words: “This will enable capital raising and investments for new and existing projects with environmental projects funding and help to deliver on the Paris Climate Agreement.”
He restated Nigeria’s commitment to climate action and investment in sustainability, adding that this scenario is reflected by the nation’s signing and ratifying the Paris Agreement, and developing the Nationally Determined Contribution Sectoral Implementation plans for five priority sectors.
According to him, Nigeria actively participated in a Side Event held at the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) held September 2017, where the Ministry reiterated the nation’s commitment to global action on climate change.
“In the area of environment and especially in climate change related activities, we have the highest political buy-in through active participation of our President,” he stated.
In a presentation, Dr Tarfa disclosed that, at COP23, Nigeria will host two side events: one on the Implementation of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), and the other on the Sovereign Green Bond.
On the COP’s focus, he said: “At COP23, governments are meeting to advance the implementation of the Paris Agreement. The focus is on the development of the guidelines on how the Paris Agreement’s provision will be implemented across a wide range of issues including:transparency, adaptation, emission reductions, provision of finance, capacity building and technology. The aim is to make progress in all these areas so that the guidelines (Rule Book) can be completed by COP24 in Poland in 2018.”
While identifying priorities for Africa on negotiations as adaptation, mitigation and finance, technology development and transfer, capacity building, global stocktake and compliance, he stressed that the work of the COP is advanced through sessions of the following bodies:
The twenty-third session of the Conference of the Parties (COP23)
The thirteenth session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP13)
The second part of the first session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA1.2)
The forty-seventh session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA47)
The forty-seventh session of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI47)
The fourth part of the first session of the Ad hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA1.4)
Similarly, Prof Emmanuel Oladipo of the University of Lagos attempted an overview of the event.
He said: “The President of the Conference of the Parties (COP) at its twenty-second session will open COP23 and propose the election of the President of COP23, who will also serve as the President of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP) at its thirteenth session and the President of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA) at the second part of its first session.
“The COP will then take up some of the organisational and procedural items on its provisional agenda, including the adoption of the agenda and the organisation of work. The COP will refer items on its agenda to the subsidiary bodies, as appropriate. The opening plenary meeting of the COP will then be adjourned. CMP13 will then open and take up some of the organisational and procedural items on its provisional agenda. The opening plenary of the CMP will then be adjourned. CMA1 will resume for the second part of its first session and take up some of the organisational and procedural items on its agenda. The resumed plenary of the CMA will then be adjourned.
“After launching their work, the COP, the CMP and the CMA will convene a joint plenary meeting to hear statements made on behalf of groups of Parties. On the basis of the guidance from the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) urging Parties and presiding officers to conclude the conference in a timely manner, it is envisaged that statements made on behalf of groups of Parties will be concise.”
Exploring the legal implications of the Paris Agreement, Huzi Mshelia of the Clean Energy Consult emphasised that, upon endorsing the Paris Agreement, besides domesticating and integrating obligations as part of national laws, countries become bounded by their respective NDC submission upon which progress would be assessed.
According to him, the NDC imposes new domestic emission targets for prioritised economic sectors.
On the implication of US’s possible withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, he said: “The US contributes 15% of global emission and it is a significant source of finance and technology for developing countries. The will be the emergence of new leadership. It is widely believed that US’s difficulty is China’s opportunity. Also, Canada and Mexico could emerge as significant players in the Americas. Business leaders such Google, Apple, Exxon Mobile, Bloomberg are disappointed, but they are forging ahead. Coal may not be able to make a comeback despite President Donald Trump’s desire. This is because deployment of renewable is soaring and coal is unlikely to make a comeback.”
The wait is over. As of today, international trade in silky and thresher sharks will be regulated through strict the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) trade controls. As such, any trade in these species from this day forward requires a science-backed finding that the levels of trade will not jeopardise their survival in the wild, and confirmation that they have been legally taken. CITES also regulates “introduction from the sea”, and as such, the same requirements also apply for silky and thresher sharks when taken in areas outside of national jurisdiction, often called the “high seas”.
Silky sharks, thresher sharks and devil rays have been added to the 10 species already listed under Appendix II
The decision to bring silky and thresher sharks under CITES was taken exactly a year ago, when the 182 countries plus the European Union (known as the Parties), that are members of CITES, decided to put the silky and thresher sharks, along with a further 500+ new species of wild animals and plants, under the global treaty’s trade regulation regime.
The Conference of the Parties allowed a one year delay before the new rules came into force so that countries could put the necessary regulations and processes into place, noting the high commercial value of the species and the challenge of identifying the products and derivatives of the species in trade.
“The 183 Parties to CITES are increasingly turning to CITES to help ensure sustainability in our oceans. The silky and thresher sharks, together with some other shark species, have been brought under CITES in an effort to help ensure their survival in the wild. The CITES Secretariat is doing its utmost to assist its Parties, in particular developing countries, to implement the Convention for these marine species so that the trade is legal, sustainable and reported,” said CITES Secretary-General, John Scanlon.
Earlier this year, the European Union contributed 900,000 EUR to support the capacity building work of the CITES Secretariat and its partners, including FAO, to assist Parties in implementing CITES rules for marine species – including sharks – that are regulated by CITES trade controls and exploited commercially. This is also a role of CITES that has been recognised by the UN General Assembly in its annual resolution on Sustainable Fisheries.
“Among the roughly 1,000 species of sharks, which include sharks, skates, rays and chimaeras in the CITES context, 23 are included in CITES Appendix II. Contrary to certain misconceptions, CITES Appendix II does not prohibit the harvesting or international trade in any shark species, rather it has brought them under its strict trade controls to ensure that any such trade is legal, sustainable and reported. These efforts will in turn contribute towards achieving enhanced sustainable fisheries management, and ending destructive fishing practices, including illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and thereby supporting the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals,” added Scanlon.
As reported cases of animals facing the threat of extinction daily make the rounds, a contrary scenario is however emerging in certain parts of Nigeria, where wildlife still has a fighting chance of survival.
The revered Sclater’s Guenon. Socio-cultural beliefs are offering wildlife succour and a fighting chance of survival
Conservation of fauna, spurred by socio-cultural beliefs, has become the hallmark of some indigenous communities in the biological diversity-rich Niger Delta region, where animals are revered.
The monkey, tortoise and the even the crocodile are among a few “lucky” animal species that the Niger Delta Biodiversity Conservation Project is assisting local communities to preserve, in the face of increasing threat to their survival.
The initiative is being supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
For example, a scheme domiciled in the community forest of Ikot Uso Akpan Itam, Itu in Akwa Ibom State specialises in the conservation of a monkey species endemic to Nigeria, known as Sclater’s Guenon (Cercopithecus sclateri).
It is an Old World monkey that was first described by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1904 and named after Philip Sclater.
The West African Dwarf Crocodile
The council of elders, led by the village head, Chief Asuquo Simon, told EnviroNews that the Ikot Uso Akpan community has high regard for the primates, which he stated can only be found in the community forest and no where else.
According to him, hunting of the animals is prohibited because they are sacred to the community.
He said: “We call the monkeys the ‘First Daughter’ of Itam – Awa Itam. The monkeys give us pride; they make us bold to tell people in the world that we are the only community that owns everything because our monkeys stay on top of every animal on the ground. Monkeys that are seen in surrounding communities are from our community and, at the end of the day, they usually return to their home in our forest where they are safe.
“This is the only community that conserves the plants – the trees, fruits that these monkeys eat. We thank the UNDP that gave us money to plant these trees- we have done it and the fruit trees grow very well and very soon the monkeys will start eating the fruits.”
Chief Simon stressed that monkeys have made the community popular, and that there is a cordial relationship between them and members of the community. According to him, the primates mimic the women when they knead ropes.
The women leader confirmed the village head’s assertion, stating that the monkeys are friendly and do not cause them any harm. “We see the Monkeys as our sisters and brothers. They chase away other animals, particularly grasscutters from destroying our crops. The monkeys are a special gift from God. We don’t harm them, and we don’t eat them” she disclosed.
The project’s team leader, Dr. Matthew Dore, advised the community leaders to take the monkey conservation initiative a step further by, with the support of the state government, putting their mascot an image of the monkey) at the airport in Uyo.
“This community should declare a Sclater’s Guenon Conservation Day, a day set aside to mark the conservation efforts of this community; when lovers of the primates and those who want to associate with them would come and celebrate them. It should be called the Sclater’s Guenon Day,” the conservationist suggested.
The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, Dr. Iniobong Ene Essien, spoke in a similar vein with Dore.
His words: “We will give political exposure to that community. If we do a proper package, we should be able to do something close to what has been suggested. We will work closely with the director, take a closer look at the community and see what we can do. This is commendable, considering the fact that, at a time like this, many species are endangered.”
In the Emu Kingdom in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State, the West African Dwarf Crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis) is cherished by indigenes. According to the king, Johnson Ekpechiulu, the reptile is regarded as “the mother of the land.”
He said: “The crocodile is revered in this society. The reason for this dates back to history. The story is that they protected us very well both day and night, and made it possible for us to have such a big kingdom like this.
“It is a sacred and forbidden animal. They do not harm us; they eat our left-over food and sleep in the neighbourhood. We bury the crocodile as we bury the living dead amomgst us.”
At the Onura Forest in Alesa, Eleme in River State, the community is protecting the tortoise as well as the forest, which villagers are concerned is fast being depleted.
In fact, under the Community Biodiversity Action Plan (CEBAP), a section of the forest will be fenced, essentially to keep the animals from wandering beyond the confines of the jungle onto the highway where they get crushed by vehicles.
Emperor J. D. Nkpe, Paramount Ruler of Alesa-Eleme, said: “The tortoise is sacred to us, and people are not allowed to hunt them. In fact, it is forbidden to kill a tortoise in this community. And we are concerned that some get killed accidentaly by motorists plying the highway; these are usually those that left their abode in the forest.
“So we intend to fence the forest to, among other reasons, prevent further deaths of the cherished animals. Indeed, whenever I see them on the road, either wandering or being offered for sale, I buy them and return them back to the forest.”
The Niger Delta Biodiversity Conservation Project (NDBP) is a five-year biological diversity conservation programme within the Niger Delta region. The programme is being implemented by GEF and UNDP with the support of Ministries of Environment within the implementing states, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the participating communities.
The main aim of the project is to enhance cooperation between the government, the oil & gas industry and local communities within the Niger Delta in building and piloting new biodiversity action planning tools for proactive biodiversity management in the region.
In order to meet this objective, a set of activities were carried out, and among them is the implementation of CBAP, which commenced in 2014 within the participating states – Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers.
The Czech Republic on Thursday, October 5, 2017 deposited its instruments of ratification of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, making the small landlocked Central European nation the 167th Party to the global treaty.
Miloš Zeman, President of the Czech Republic. Photo credit: CNN
According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the ratification will come into force on November 4, 2017.
Previously, Dominican Republic (166th) and Cape Verde (165th) had deposited their instruments of ratification of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
Before the duo, Myanmar (161st), Bhutan (162nd), Ecuador (163rd) and Liechenstien (164th) had also ratified the treaty.
The Paris Agreement entered into force on November 4, 2016, 30 days after the date on which at least 55 Parties to the Convention accounting in total for at least an estimated 55% of the total global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with the Depositary.
The Paris Agreement builds upon the Convention (UNFCCC) and – for the first time – brings all nations into a common cause to undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects, with enhanced support to assist developing countries to do so. As such, it charts a new course in the global climate effort.
The Paris Agreement’s central aim is to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Additionally, the agreement aims to strengthen the ability of countries to deal with the impacts of climate change. To reach these ambitious goals, appropriate financial flows, a new technology framework and an enhanced capacity building framework will be put in place, thus supporting action by developing countries and the most vulnerable countries, in line with their own national objectives. The Agreement also provides for enhanced transparency of action and support through a more robust transparency framework.
Marc Chardonnens, Director, Federal Office for the Environment, Switzerland, who was President of the First meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP1) to the Minamata Convention on Mercury that held recently in Geneva, presents the Key Take-Home messages from the High-Level Segment that took place from September 28 to 29, 2017
Marc Chardonnens, Director, Federal Office for the Environment, Switzerland, and COP1 President
This session of the Conference has agreed on the following very important Key Take-Home messages.
Consideration of the impacts of the uses and emissions and releases of mercury must cover its entire life-cycle, across all media and take into account cross-media impacts. The issue must be integrated into public health and environmental strategies at the local, national, regional and international level and embodied into the wider pollution control agenda.
We are aware that a crucial part of informing the public and authorities about the impact of mercury and of taking on the broader challenge of addressing its adverse effects is to engage and work hand-in-hand with stakeholders from every section of society. Positive implementation of the Convention can only be achieved with governance that is inclusive of all sectors and all stakeholders and that encourages inter-ministerial and cross-sectoral cooperation.
We can best achieve the involvement of all stakeholders through the promotion of partnerships both with civil society and with the private sector. Civil society organisations have close cooperation with local communities, which facilitates communication on how to deal with the adverse effects of mercury pollution and private enterprise often has access to innovative technologies and resources that can be drawn upon to further environmental protection. We can acknowledge that partnerships are a crucial means to share the burden and to benefit from experience and expertise and must therefore be encouraged. Additionally, private enterprise must be encouraged to share in the responsibility for cleanup efforts and instituting best available technology and best environmental practices.
We can note that for many of the local and national activities involving mercury, there is an urgent need to enhance the visibility of and the guidance offered by the Minamata Convention and to inform on the adverse effects of mercury as well as the benefits of adhering to the obligations under the Convention. This can only be done through high-level government commitment and through broad scale education and awareness raising programmes that target not only decision makers but also local authorities, individuals engaged in practices using mercury and civil society.
At the same time, we must note that national policies, legislation and institutions that exist must be strengthened and, where lacking, established such that implementation of the Convention is supported with robust and long-term institutional frameworks. This includes putting in place legislation that prevents the diversion of mercury other than for allowed uses, and legislation that addresses potential illegal traffic in mercury.
We know that chemicals in general, and mercury in particular, are addressed throughout many of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Hence, focusing countries’ efforts on integrating the sustainable development agenda into national development plans will help us protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury.
As ministers we have exchanged very important information and experience on the existing practices at the national level that use mercury, or from which mercury can be introduced into the environment. And we agree that to reduce or eliminate those uses we need to examine how to support populations currently engaged in such practices in their move to alternative activities. We also need to promote safe substitutes and examine economic consequences of inaction at the local level. We are aware that ASGM is one of the highest concerns about mercury contamination and has a strong regional and socio-economic dimension affecting women and children and requiring cleaner technologies, alternative livelihoods, incentives for formalisation the informal sector and engagement in seeking appropriate solutions.
We can agree that many countries lack the resources, both financial and technical, to implement their obligations under the Convention. Support to those in need is vital and must be addressed in a sustainable manner, including through capacity building and technical assistance, to ensure the success of the Convention.
We concur that affordable and alternative technologies for emissions and releases including those with co-benefits need to be put in place, and subsidies could be envisaged to encourage and assist manufacturers to make the move to best alternative technologies and best environmental practices. In addition, strict and stringent control and monitoring programmes for emissions and releases must be developed and instituted at the national level.
Specific national conditions and circumstances such as those of, for example, small island developing states must also be addressed with applicable solutions.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) announced on Friday, October 6, 2017 that it has delivered nearly 1.2 million doses of antibiotics and released $1.5 million in emergency funds to fight plague in Madagascar.
Dr. Charlotte Ndiaye, WHO Representative in Madagascar
“Plague is curable if detected in time. Our teams are working to ensure that everyone at risk has access to protection and treatment. The faster we move, the more lives we save,” said Dr. Charlotte Ndiaye, WHO Representative in Madagascar.
The UN body has delivered 1,190,000 doses of antibiotics to the Ministry of Health and partners this week, and a further supply of 244,000 doses is expected in the days ahead.
The different types of drugs will be used for both curative and prophylactic care. They are enough to treat up to 5,000 patients and protect up to 100,000 people who may be exposed to the disease.
The medicines are being distributed to health facilities and mobile health clinics across the country with the support of the Ministry of Health and partners.
The WHO is also filling critical shortages in disinfection materials and personal protective equipment for health professionals and safe burials.
WHO and the Ministry of Health are training local health workers on how to identify and care for patients, and how to trace people who have had close contact with symptomatic patients so that they may be given protective treatment.
Most of the 231 infections and 33 deaths that the Ministry of Health has reported since August are associated with pneumonic plague – a more dangerous form of the disease that affects the lungs and is transmitted through coughing at close range.
Both bubonic and pneumonic plague can be cured using common antibiotics if delivered early. Antibiotics can also help prevent infection among people who have been exposed to plague.
WHO has rapidly released $1.5 million from it emergency funds to allow for immediate support to the country until more substantial funds are received.
WHO is appealing for $5.5 million to effectively respond to the outbreak and save lives.
