Windhoek, Namibia, 24 October 2022 - Africa’s premier climate change summit, the Climate Change and Development in Africa (CCDA-X) now in its tenth year, opened today in the Namibian capital, Windhoek.
The theme for this year’s conference is ‘Just Transitions in Africa: Transforming Dialogue into Action,’ whose main objective is to stir a continental debate and inform discussions on best approaches that will usher in a clean-energy transition that is felt across Africa as truly just.
The 2022 theme is a well-timed continuation of last year’s banner, “Towards a Just Transition that delivers jobs, prosperity and climate resilience in Africa: Leveraging the green and blue economy.”
This year’s conference takes place a fortnight before the world congregates in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt for the 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). “Just Transition” which denotes careful alterations and changes from heavy emissions energy forms to clean climate smart, resilient, environmentally, and socially sustainable models to power economies will be the centerpiece of discussions for the three-day conference.
According to Jean-Paul Adam the Director, Technology, Climate Change and Natural Resource Management Division at the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the Windhoek summit which takes place from 24th- 28th October will facilitate lessons sharing, unveiling of new research findings and stimulate discussions on climate investments by uniting different dialogue platforms, and interactive parallel sessions.
CCDA-X, which is being organized by the African Climate Policy Centre (ACPC), under the auspices of the Climate for Development in Africa (ClimDev-Africa) Initiative in conjunction with Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) and the Namibian government will refine and consolidate Africa’s position in readiness for COP27 in Egypt according to the organisers. The ClimDev-Africa brings together the main continental development institutions, led by the African Union Commission (AUC), African Development Bank (AfDB), UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), international organisations, and the civil society leader, PACJA. ClimDev-Africa operational mandate stems from the highest decision-making organ for the continent, which is the African Union Summit of Heads of State and Government.
James Murombedzi who heads the ACPC says that to increase CCDA-X outreach and create the much-needed critical mass on the climate change discourse, the organisers will be deploying the hybrid model of participation, to cater for both virtual and in-person speakers including delegates.
Seven key tracks will form the main dialogue areas for discussion and debates in Windhoek. These include just transitions, green growth opportunities and resilience which will be the cross-cutting themes as well as nature-based solutions, carbon markets, adaptation, resilience, climate financing, youth engagement and food systems value chains. According to Murombedzi, the discussions during these tracks will be incorporated in the main outcome declaration of the Windhoek summit, which will be presented to stakeholders at COP27’s Africa Pavilion in Sharm El Sheikh in November.
CCDA-X follows the well-established tradition of previous summits as it is also structured in an all-inclusive approach bringing together scientists, policymakers, parliamentarians, the African Group of Negotiators, grassroots youth organisations, civil societies, women groups and Indigenous Peoples. Non-state actors including Development partners, local municipalities, humanitarian agencies, multilateral development agencies, international organisations and the private sector are also strongly represented in Windhoek.
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org
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