The African Group of Negotiators Experts Support (AGNES), Kenya’s Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), and other partners are convening a crucial Pre-SB 60 Strategy Meeting from April 9th to 12th in Nairobi, Kenya. The meeting, expected to draw diverse stakeholders, is poised to chart a strategic path for African climate action in the face of pressing global challenges.
With global temperatures soaring and the world edging closer to the critical 1.5°C threshold, urgency permeates the international climate discourse. Against this backdrop, AGNES is spearheading efforts to galvanize African negotiators, policymakers, experts, and stakeholders to deliberate on key issues and formulate a unified approach ahead of the SB60 session in Bonn, Germany in June this year.
Building on the outcomes of COP28, which underscored the importance of addressing agriculture, adaptation, gender, health, water security, biodiversity, and nature-based solutions, the Pre-SB 60 Strategy Meeting aims to distill actionable strategies to propel Africa’s climate agenda forward.
The meeting will feature a comprehensive agenda, including plenary sessions, thematic discussions, and breakout segments focusing on specific climate-related themes. Participants will engage in strategic dialogue, share insights, and collaborate to develop a cohesive African stance on critical climate issues.
Key segments to be discussed include:
- Agriculture and Food Security: Delving into strategies to enhance agricultural resilience and ensure food security in the face of climate change impacts.
- Adaptation, Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), and Finance: Exploring avenues to bolster adaptation efforts, strengthen the GGA framework, and mobilize finance for climate resilience projects.
- Gender and Climate Change: Examining the intersection of gender and climate change, focusing on promoting gender-responsive policies and initiatives.
- Health and Climate Change: Addressing the health impacts of climate change and advocating for climate-resilient healthcare systems to safeguard vulnerable populations.
- Water and Climate Security: Highlighting the critical importance of water security in climate adaptation strategies and fostering sustainable water management practices.
- Biodiversity and Nature-based Solutions: Discussing the role of biodiversity conservation and nature-based solutions in mitigating climate change impacts and enhancing ecosystem resilience.
Key outputs expected from the meeting include a strategic framework for African negotiators, draft submissions on priority agenda items, and texts to inform negotiations during the SB60 session. Additionally, the meeting seeks to enhance participants’ awareness of emerging climate priorities, bolstering their capacity to engage effectively in future climate negotiations.
Stakeholders attending the meeting represent a broad spectrum of actors, including policymakers, negotiators, experts, practitioners, civil society organizations, and development partners. Together, they aim to harness collective expertise and foster collaboration to advance sustainable and resilient climate action across Africa.