AU negotiator: COP27 is seen as summit of implemention, transition

CAIRO - 6 November 2022: African Union negotiator and Ugandan parliamentarian, Jacqueline Amongin, expressed her delight to participate in COP27 Climate Summit held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

 

She hailed Egypt's hosting of the climate summit this year as a representative of Africa.

 

"The current summit bears great importance given the challenges the world is going through on the one hand, and because this summit is seen as the summit of implementation and transition from the stage of discussions to the stage of actions, stressing that the world will remember Sharm El-Sheikh for the importance of the decisions related to adaptation to the effects of climate change and financing that will be reached during the summit, as well as the initiatives that will help reduce the climate crisis," Amongin said.

 

On her message as a negotiator for rich countries, Jacqueline said that the African continent contributes only 4% of the world’s emissions, calling on developed countries to ensure commitment related to reducing emissions and financing, noting that the signatories to the Paris Agreement pledged to provide the NDC and reduce their emissions by certain percentages. 

 

She added that the countries also agreed at the Glasgow Summit to provide financing estimated at $100 billion to countries affected by climate change, and Africa is still marginalized.

 

She said she wanted to call for allocating funds to Africa in particular so that it can tackle climate change.

 

On her participation, she said that she had attended previous climate summits as a negotiator and policy maker on the continent, considering that the time is right for everyone to make real changes to affirm their commitment to confronting climate change.

 

She explained that the African Union plans to invite countries to focus on gender, and youth engagement.

 

She added that young people constitute 70 percent of the continent's population, and they will bear the consequences of climate change tomorrow.

 

She called for making the summit a place to support young people by supporting their initiatives and called for supporting women as well, and to ensure sustainability in active participation in the climate issue.

 

Regarding Egypt's hosting of the summit, she said that it is a positive thing, especially as it is in line with the objectives of the African Union's strategy 2063, considering that the outcomes of the summit will be discussed, political support will be provided for implementation and the allocation of resources at the member level.