PM Hailemariam calls for African common position in Doha Climate Change Conference 

(News by ERTA)

Ethiopian Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn has called for African common position in the upcoming Doha Climate Change Conference as has been negotiated on the issues over the past years.

The Premier made the call at the 2nd annual Conference on Climate Change and Development in Africa on Friday under the theme: ‘Advancing Knowledge, Policy and Practice in Climate Change and Development’ at UNECA Convention Center in Addis Ababa.

Hailemariam said Ethiopia is ready to share its green economy development experience to sister African countries.

The Premier said Africa should advance its concerns on climate change with one voice in the upcoming Doha, Climate Change Conference. He said the Continent should seize the Conference to advance the cause of Africa at international forums as the late PM Meles Zenawi had done so.

The fund for African green economy development is not closed and should get its compensation for the devastated effect of climate change it faces, he said.

He noted that Africa should negotiate on climate change based on substantiated scientific researches.

PM Hailemariam said the African Climate Change Policy Center established by the Economic Commission for Africa should capacitate negotiators, countries and institutions in policy and analytical researches.

The premier said Ethiopia would extend all the necessary support in campaigning for Africa in the Conference. Ethiopia is willing to share its Climate-Resilient Green Economy and results kindled by the late PM Meles for sister African countries, he said, adding, all rounded effort is underway to attain the carbon free economy by the year 2025.

As part of the effort, the Ethiopian government is running huge projects on renewable energy resources including water, wind and geothermal, he said.

The premier said African nations should similarly be politically committed and solicit social mobilization for the same cause.

UN-ECA Executive Secretary Carlos Lopes for his part said Africa is being affected in various ways including increasing of temperature, more frequent and sever incidents of drought and floods, retreat in glaciers and rising sea level.

He said sectors like health, energy, water and sanitation would be impacted by climate change and require appropriate policy responses.

He said the theme of the conference is appropriate as knowledge which is informed by practice is vital to design policies that will promote development in the face of climate change.

He said member states and regional institutions need to scale up investment in climate change data information and service, chart out clear policy and development that are climate resilient and low carbon intensive.

The executive secretary said Africa position in the climate change negotiations continues to be well prepared so as to obtain access to more finance, appropriate technology and capacity development needs.

The two-day conference would deliberate on research papers and is expected to adopt African common position on climate change in the upcoming Doha Conference.