Posted on Friday 3 October 2008
In the last few weeks a number of REDD related events have been held around Africa: the Ready for REDD Forum at the UNFCCC Climate Change talks in Accra (21-27 August); A Special Ministerial Session on REDD and Climate Change during the Ministerial Council of the Central African Forest Commission – COMIFAC in Bangui (9-11 September — download the Declaration de Bangui); The Katoomba Group meeting for East and Southern Africa in Dar es Salaam (15-18 September); and the Africa Forest Forum Workshop on Climate Change and Variability in Africa in Nairobi (23-25 September). ASB was present and active in all of these events.
These meetings have heightened discussions on REDD and climate change in the continent on two key questions: How is Africa going to approach the negotiations leading up to a post 2012 arrangement in Copenhagen in 2009? How ready is Africa for REDD?
A Common Position
Regarding the negotiations, there is consensus on the need for African countries to adopt a common position given the stakes of the upcoming negotiations. Some voices within the continent caution, however, that the common position should adequately recognize the diversity of interests in the region with respect to humid forests, dry forests and woodlands. UNEP and the African Forest Forum (AFF) are planning projects to support African negotiators in this respect- i.e. by organizing preparatory meetings and providing technical backstopping during negotiations. The Congo Basin group is perhaps the most advanced in developing a common position through recent REDD submissions to the UNFCCC process. The Congo Basin group have concentrated on the need to include forest degradation in REDD and floated the idea of an “allowance for development or permissible emissions due to development.” Substantive work on definition, measureable and modalities for implementation is yet to begin in earnest.
