ONE AFRICA WITH ONE VOICE AND POSITION IN CLIMATE NEGOTIATION

From every part of Africa and Diaspora, several actors in climate change met at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe for pre-session on fifth Climate Change and Development Africa Conference (CCDA-V) with theme of "Africa, climate change and sustainable development: what is at stake at Paris and beyond?".

African negotiators, Civil society, Legislators, Private sector, and Implementing agencies comes together to strengthen their capacity on key issues pertaining to the expected Climate Agreement in COP21by assessing the options on the table on ambition cycles, adaptation, land use and forest, support, accounting and MRV provisions, and by exploring capacity building needs related to implementation and the legal implications.One of headline during session is commitment that no betrayal to African position in negotiation as Africans we should stay together to win, any tiny of division will lead to massive failure. Why Africa needs victory and what type of victory needed, hope this is question in your mind while reading this article.

Here is answer, the contribution of Africa in climate change in terms of GHGs emission is significant low, at the same time the Africa felt the impact of Climate Change probably than any other part of world. This is because the capacity of adaptation is again significant low due to inadequate technical and financial capacity. Moreover most of economic and social activity depends on rainfall since change in patterns, distribution, frequency and intensity affect direct the livehood of African community.

Africa does not need sympathy in responding to climate change especially in reaching climate agreement but voice of all, especially the most affect community. Cooperation and trust among parties will give solution but the situation of less developed and small island developing states should be well considered.

Africa need to develop as other continents but is under climate change scenario, this impose a serious challenge and exam for Africa as will struggle to develop in era where use of fossil fuels amplify climate change again use of solar energy is still back mind when it comes running large industries.

We all need to take action to climate change regarding the capacity and historical responsibility as indicated in UNFCCC Convection of 1992. The agreement we expect in Paris should build up on convection not against it with its principles.