Aaron kaahYancho (PAMACC TEAM PARIS)
The African civil society led by
the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) has called for an acceleration
of a final climatedeal and for the provision of more fundsfor the protection of
the rights of indigenous people in Africa. Thiscall was made during a press
briefing which held over the heels of their protest rally that happened on the
side lines of the ongoing Climate change negotiation in Paris.
Reflecting on the red
lines for Africa Augustine Njamnshi from BCDP, Cameroon and Technical/Political
Affairs Chair of Pan Africa Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) lamented the slow
pace of the negotiations and said African civil society protest to demand for
urgent action; adequate adaptation finance was in orde. “We were promised that
emission cuts would be strengthened this year, they weren’t. Instead African
countries are been saddled with additional load of paying for climate debt
which they least contributed”. Njamnshi said.
Looking at what 1.5 means
to a binding deal, Robert Chimambo, of Zambia Climate change Network said
Africans stand point on this was clear and need no compromise. Robert called on the
developed countries to refrain from the tactics of playing for time, to one of
action and concrete solutions. “We demand equity, fair deal and a legally
binding agreement” Robert said adding that time was of the essence. He further
added that developed countries must be mandated to pay their contributions on
all elements including provisions of money for adaptation to developing
countries.
Assessing the tortoise
path so far taken by African civil society observers on COP deliberations
MithikaMwenda, Secretary General of Pan African Climate Justice Alliance PACJA
decried the slow pace of the negotiations. While frowning that more talking was
going on than action Mithika challenged Africans to stay united and strong in view of a new
text from the Paris meeting. Mithika said any mistakes on Paris were a
legalization of a death sentence for
Africa. “Any climate change deal that is leading to 3*C will cause untold
problems of hunger, starvation, disasters, conflicts and wars in Africa and
should be rejected”. The PACJA boss warned. Mithika called on all African Civil
society observers to keep on tracking the events without compromise for the
sake of the continent
Decrying while the
developed countries were showing no sense of urgency in formulating a a new climate
deal, Sam Ogallah of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA)
attributed this to an issue of self-interest and the horse trading
that goes behind the negotiations. Sam charged that Africa will not be deceived
by technical or procedural tricks in asking for a deal that is ambitious and
with equity.
Reacting
to the news that the US government was excluding itself from any future
compensations on loss and damage, Panelists during the briefing all concluded
that it was a retreat from the previous negotiations and advancement to a new
climate deal. “We need to be alert”. Mithika remarked.Panelists during the
briefing decried that this Paris climate talks could trigger even more
serious consequences for Africa if care
wasn’t taken to protect the rights of the indigenous people. The Press briefing
also tasked the negotiators to hasten up the drafting of a new climate deal
rather than the ongoing delay tactics that were prevailing to give room for
critique and feedback. When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
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