Virtual meeting of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), June 8, 2021 Calls for Africa to speak with one clear, united voice to address climate change |11 June 2021

Minister Joubert represented President Ramkalawan at the meeting

Seychelles took part in the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) meeting on Tuesday June 8 which brought together other African heads of State.

Flavien Joubert, the Minister for Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment, represented President Wavel Ramkalawan at the virtual meeting chaired by the President of the Republic of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa in his capacity as the coordinator of this continental structure.  

Opening the meeting, President Ramaphosa called for African leaders to unite in addressing climate change, speak with one clear voice and have a strong and well-coordinated common African position and to express “unwavering support” for the implementation of the United Nations Climate Change Convention and its Paris Agreement.

He said that while the continent is dealing with the impact of the pandemic on human health, societies and economies, Africa continues to bear the brunt of climate change, with annual costs to African economies of between 3% to 5% of their gross domestic product.

“Africa continues to be one of the most affected regions and frequently experiences phenomena associated with global warming. These include droughts, floods, cyclones and other extreme weather events, which have caused enormous damage to infrastructure and displaced thousands of people,” President Ramaphosa said.

The CAHOSCC was established in 2009 by the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government to spearhead an African Common Position on Climate Change and ensure that Africa speaks with one voice in global climate change negotiations. The Committee’s deliberations form part of preparations for COP26, the 26th United Nations Climate Change conference which will be held in the United Kingdom in November 2021.

Among the items on the agenda, the CAHOSCC meeting deliberated on the African Green Stimulus Programme and the current status of the international climate negotiations in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, and chart a way forward for Africa’s engagement at COP26.

The Committee focused on the implementation of new and on-going climate change programmes and activities by the African Union Commission and received updates from the three African Climate Commissions.

Minister Joubert, representing President Ramkalawan as the Chair of the Africa Island States Climate Commission (AISCC) – which is a country partnership promoting smart climate resilient action in Africa islands states for sustainable development, to conserve biodiversity and enhance local livelihood and economies – provided an update report on the AISCC plan of action to the meeting.

He said that the AISCC was launched in February 2020 in Addis Ababa, on the sideline of the AU Summit, of which a framework of action was presented to the members. The first technical meeting was planned to be held in Seychelles in March 2020 and subsequently January 2021 respectively, but consequently had to be postponed due to the adverse impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in the region. However, depending on the Covid-19 situation, the Commission looks forward to convene an in-person technical meeting with member countries and supporting partners in Seychelles in July 2021, tentatively.

Among the points on the draft agenda to be discussed are a roadmap for the AISCC, the setting up of a trust fund, development of a climate investment plan and operational plan for the period 2021 to 2030 with a regional priority programme for emergencies, development of a communication strategy and also come up with a strategy for mobilising financial resources in order to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of AISCC activities.

Press release from the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment