CLIMATE NEWS NETWORK AFRICA

Kenya Hosts Africa Climate Summit 2023

2023-08-04T20:04:00.001-07:00

By Charles Ogallo

Nairobi is gearing up for this year's Africa Climate Summit set to held from 4 - 8th September, 2023.

The Summit will provide a platform for policymakers and other stakeholders in the green energy mix to discuss and provide region- focussed contributions which would help inform the global stocktake on energy systems and industry, land Ocean, food and water among many other energy related issues in the continent.

It will further serve as a platform to inform, frame and influence commitments, pledges and outcomes ultimately leading to the development of Nairobi declaration, according to Soipan Tuya, the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Climate Change Kenya.

The Summit will also run parallel with the Africa Climate Week to provide a platform for policymakers, practitioners, businesses and civil society to exchange on climate solutions, barriers to overcome and opportunities realized in different regions, leading to the first global stocktake concluding at COP28 in UAE in December of this year.

Kenya being among East African Countries gravely affected by adverse effects of climate change particularly the changing weather patterns, aims to drive climate finance conversation during the Summit, according to Joseph Ng'ang'a, the Summit CEO.

The country faces extreme weather, alternating between severe droughts and devastating flood which has not only destroyed homes and lives but also exerted a heavy toll on agriculture, one of her major economic activity and driver of growth.

Cape Town Readying For Green Energy Africa Summit 2023

2023-08-04T18:53:00.002-07:00

By Charles Ogallo

This year's Green Energy Africa Summit returns to Cape Town, South Africa from 10 – 11 October 2023.

The high-level gathering advocates for policy reforms and the harmonisation of Africa's natural resources.

It's outcome will help pave way for a just energy transition to ensure Africa remains competitive and attractive to global finance.

Under the theme, “Unlocking Africa’s Sustainable Energy Potential”, the Green Energy Africa Summit, will provide unrivalled opportunities through an active two-day programme for stakeholders across the energy value chain to collaborate, offer solutions and build partnerships to help unlock Africa's true socioeconomic potential.

The Summit will come few weeks after the Climate Change Summit set for Nairobi, Kenya early September and aims to address the increasing exposure to climate change and it's associated costs both globally, Africa in particular, according to host country's President William Ruto

"Climate action is not a Global North issue or a Global South issue. It is our collective challenge and it affects all of us

We need to come together to find common global solutions"said the President recently during the inauguration of the 4-8th September 2023 Summit in Nairobi https://africaclimatesummit.org/

COP27 Slow Progress Disappoint African CSOs

2022-11-17T22:10:00.000-08:00

A team of African civil society groups at COP27 in Sharma el Sheikh, Egypt

By Charles Ogallo

African civil society groups have expressed disappointment with the progress and expected outcomes from the 27^th Conference of Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change taking place in Sharma El Sheikh, Egypt.

United under the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance, the CSOs said contrary to expectations by Africa, COP27 would soon end, leaving millions of Africans with unresolved climate-related miseries.

Mithika Mwenda, the Executive director, PACJA said Africans leave COP27 a disappointed lot.

“We came with the hope that the momentum created by the discussions in the year ahead of COP27 under the facilitation of UNFCCC, the COP Presidency and the facilitation of friends of the COP will materialize with concrete outcomes in Egypt. But unfortunately, the end of COP is an anti-climax,” said Mithika.

Mithika said people facing starvation in the Eastern and Horn of Africa due to climate-related droughts in parts of Eastern Africa, floods in Nigeria and cyclones in Southern Africa would continue to wait for signals on action from the international community.

“This will continue to delay because decisions on loss and damage have been delayed yet again to 2024,” he said.

Tracy Sony, a gender specialist from Botswana, said the most pressing issue remains lack of clear linkages between yearly plans, programs and discussions from across continents but without concrete outcomes at every other COP. “Why should we be meeting every year in these COPs that end up with no substantial outcomes,” she said.

Augustine Njamnshi, Chair Political and Technical Committee, PACJA noted that Africans woukd be leaving COP27 less reassured of the goodwill of global leaders, especially those in high-polluting industrialized countries.

The climate activists had expected to see delegation from the developed countries make bold decisions reflecting the scale and urgency of the climate crisis, according to Njamnshi.

Njamnshi noted that as in Glasgow last year, which lowered the bar and deferred urgent actions despite the high risk of missing the Paris Agreement targets, COP27 has dashed the hopes of the African people, potentially raising their plight.

While mentioning areas Africans felt let down by the COP27, Njamnshi said failure to admit Africa’s special needs and circumstances on the agenda of the global conference contributed to the slow progress, delays and, in some cases, the lowering of ambition on issues pertinent to Africa.

The deferral of a decision on financing loss and damage to 2024 with no guarantees of an outcome that reflects the aspirations and hopes of Africa and the lower-than-needed emission reduction ambition announced by big polluters, particularly the EU also downgraded the COP in the eyes of the Africans.

Njamnshi said failure to reach a clear trajectory for phasing out fossil fuel, which has resulted in the decisions by some countries to continue, using high polluting fossil fuels that has powered the same economic model behind the current climate crisis, would not be of any help to the continent.

“After a careful examination of what needs to change to rekindle hope and justify Africa’s continued engagement with the global effort to address the climate crisis, we call on African leaders to reassess the relevance of the UNFCCC and COP processes to the African people and take radical actions to strengthen Africa’s voice and participation,” said Njamnshi.

He challenged big polluters to honor their pledges and engagement to deliver the resources needed to address the climate crisis in Africa, especially those touching on adaptation and loss and damage.

Florence Kasule, a climate activist from Uganda said African women feel disappointed by negotiations process and progress at the COP27.

“The COP was tagged as an implementation COP with its promise on key African issues and had women excited since they are the major implementers of climate action at the grassroots,” she said.

Lack of a clear action on adaptation, loss, and damage, which meant little action on agriculture upon which the economies of African countries rely on most and given that fact that women are te key drivers of agriculture in Africa.

Lucky Abeng, a youth from Nigeria said, the youth that make up 70 per cent of the population of the continent leave COP27 disappointed.

“Young people have been disadvantaged and look to next year with uncertainty. The COP27 progress has done nothing but punctured the pride of the African youth,” he said.

The two week UN Climate Change COP27 began 6^th November , 2022 with calls for immediate implementation of Paris Agreement. .

COP27: Africa Geared to Become Global Green Hydrogen Leader, Report Shows

2022-11-13T12:28:00.005-08:00

By Charles Ogallo

Africa could capture up to 10 percent of global green hydrogen market, helping to create up to 3.7 million jobs and adding as much as US$120bn to gross domestic product (GDP) by 2050, report released at COP27 shows.

The landmark report issued jointly by Masdar and its Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) platform on the sidelines of the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27 also shows Africa’s plentiful solar and wind resources could be leveraged to produce 30 to 60 million tons per annum (mtpa) of green hydrogen by 2050, about 5 to 10 percent of global demand.

“Africa’s Green Energy Revolution: Hydrogen’s role in unlocking Africa’s untapped renewables,” says the report produced with analytical support provided by McKinsey & Company.

An African hydrogen industry with that production capacity would likely create 1.9 to 3.7 million jobs and boost GDP by as much as US$60 to 120 billion by 2050, the report finds.

Speaking at the launch of the report, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Masdar Chief Executive Officer, said, “This report provides a blueprint for African nations to deliver sustainable, low-carbon growth while extending energy access across the continent. Green hydrogen has the potential to reduce emissions, unlock economic opportunities, and create new and valuable jobs for countries across the Middle East and North Africa region.

He indicated that “Masdar has long recognized green hydrogen’s potential, with investments as far back as 2008. With several green hydrogen projects underway today around the world – including a number in Africa – we look forward to continuing to work closely with our African partners to maximize the many achievable benefits of green hydrogen highlighted in this report.”

Africa could be among the most competitive sources for green hydrogen in the world, the report shows, with a cost of US$1.8 to 2.6 per kilogram (kg) in 2030, further decreasing to about US$1.2 to 1.6 per kg by 2050 as hydrogen production technology matures and renewable energy costs continue to decline.

Proximity to demand centers in Europe and Asia also optimally positions the continent to build an export-oriented hydrogen sector, the report suggests, noting African energy exports via green hydrogen and derivatives would reach 20 to 40 mtpa by 2050.

The remaining 10-20 mtpa would serve domestic hydrogen demand, helping to boost electrification of African communities and delivering other socioeconomic benefits, including a more sustainable energy grid, expanded clean energy access, and reduced reliance on fossil fuel imports.

Masdar Director of Asset Management and Technical Services, Mohammad Abdelqader El Ramahi, said: “Scaling up green hydrogen is an opportunity to not only build a robust global-export sector on the African continent, but also to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy overall. The grid-connected renewables used for green hydrogen production can feed energy into the grid to provide affordable clean energy to under-resourced areas – notably, in Sub-Saharan Africa, which has an average electrification rate of only 48 percent.”

Enabling production on the scale of 30-60 mtpa would require between 1,500 and 3,000 terawatt hours (TWh) of renewable energy – equivalent to more than 50 times Africa’s current total production from solar and wind, the report states. The largest share of the investments (US$320- 610 billion) would go to the renewables needed to produce the hydrogen, followed by electrolysis plants (US$115-220 billion). For export projects, most of the needed capital is expected to come from foreign investors, according to the report.

Beyond investments, the report recommends six broad areas for action: development of an integrated master plan; governance, international coordination, and mobilization; establishment of regulatory frameworks for hydrogen exports; investments in infrastructure; sourcing and building a highly skilled workforce; and deployment of project de-risking mechanisms.

The report shows also that Africa is also highly competitive in hydrogen exports with Eastern Africa’s renewable and hydrogen cost position remaining less attractive than in other parts of the African continent. ”Although ammonia exported to Europe from Eastern Africa would cost less than domestic production in Germany, for example, other parts of Africa are likely more competitive. There could potentially be some upside from using geothermal energy resources (that Kenya, for instance, has in abundance) for clean hydrogen production”

Masdar, one of the world’s leading clean energy companies, is actively involved in a number of projects related to green hydrogen production.

In April, Masdar and Egypt’s Hassan Allam Utilities signed agreements with leading Egyptian state-backed organizations to cooperate on the development of green hydrogen production plants in the country, targeting an electrolyzer capacity of 4 gigawatts by 2030, and output of up to 480,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year.

The Masdar-ADSW report on Africa’s green hydrogen potential can be found online here

Courtesy of Masdar News: https://news.masdar.ae

At COP27 Scientists Warn Outbreaks of Infectious Diseases likely to Increase due to Climate Change

2022-11-11T12:21:00.003-08:00

By Charles Ogallo

Scientists are now calling on policymakers to build climate resilience and environmental sustainability into healthcare systems that reflect the uncertainties of climate change impacts and development choices, and their varied effects on humans, animals, plants and ecosystems.

They say compounding risks due to climate change are adversely impacting human, animal and environmental health.

The risks have the potential to slow advances made in population health over the last decades and disrupt functioning health systems across the globe, according to new report launched Thursday November 10, by leading scientists during UN Climate Change in Sharma el Sheikh, Egypt,

The scientists challenged COP27 participants to “Consider the current cost of climate inaction on human, animal and environmental health systems and re-examine budgets and financial incentives to ensure adequate investment in prevention and addressing vulnerabilities”

The 10 New Insights in Climate Science Report shows that Infectious diseases, especially waterborne and vector-borne diseases, as evidenced by increased childhood diarrhoeal disease being observed in some regions during extreme weather events are likely to increase.

”In addition to temperature-related changes in geographic range, large-scale outbreaks of infectious disease can affect local and global health from cascading pathways involving weather and climate events, population movement, land-use changes, urbanization, global trade and other drivers” says the report.

Climate change has been described by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the single biggest health threat facing humanity and its already responsible for 37% of heat-related deaths globally with the burden likely exacerbated by recent 2022 heatwaves that exceeded temperature records.

Heat exposure has also resulted in adverse reproductive outcomes such as preterm birth, low birthweight, stillbirth and lower sperm production.

The report also shows that an increase in cross-species viral transmission risk, and zoonotic virus spillover and spread in humans is more likely, especially at high elevations, in biodiversity hotspots, and in areas of high human population density in Asia and Africa.

However, significant numbers of lives can be protected by investing in early warning systems (relevant to extreme weather events, microbial transmission, and disease outbreaks and other health risks such as respiratory distress or toxicity), which should include monitoring and evaluation, according to the report.

To address the growing climate challenge, the report says health systems need to become more resilient, addressing inequities to better manage complex and compounding hazards in a systems-based manner.

It further recommended for immediate remedies from governments to improve understanding of how climate change is causing injuries, illnesses and deaths today to ensure mitigation and adaptation strategies take a multi-sectoral approach with health as a central motivation.

Other measures proposed include an expanded statistical monitoring related to health to help countries sufficiently track impacts on human, animal and environmental health (one health approach) and document progress towards health protection and resilience.

Governments also need to enhance advocacy to improved microbial and disease surveillance, including from known, novel and antimicrobial-resistant pathogens as well as Improved knowledge about the benefits of disaster preparedness and adaptation options that address inequities.

The report launched by the international networks Future Earth, The Earth League and World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) further indicates that over 3 billion people will inhabit ‘vulnerability hotspots’ - areas with the highest susceptibility to being adversely affected by climate-driven hazards - by 2050, double what it is today.

According to global assessments of vulnerability that combine socioeconomic factors alongside climate hazard risk, an estimated 1.6 billion people live in regions that are in the highest categories of vulnerability, where populations are predicted to double by 2050.

Regional hotspots are clustered in Central America, Asia, the Middle East and several regions of Africa: the Sahel, Central and East Africa.

In the most vulnerable countries, mortality from floods, drought and storms is 15 times higher than in the least-vulnerable countries, according to the scientific report.

Bureaucracy Threatening Grass-root Communities Access to Climate Finance in Africa

2022-11-10T12:30:00.001-08:00

By Charles Ogallo

Bureaucracy remains a major threat to African local communities’ access to climate finance, a situation affecting their efforts to adapt and mitigate climate change, according to a session of the 27^th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Participants in the session heard that grass-root African communities have ideas on leading local action that could help them adequately adapt to climate change, but they face difficulties in accessing needed financial support.

The session, organized by the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt focused on closing the gap between grassroots, intermediaries and financial service providers.

Panelists noted the tough conditions some financial providers demand from grassroot communities, most of who do not have adequate financial literacy but have bankable ideas in adaptation.

"Such conditions make it very hard for community groups access needed finances and hence community projects fail to be scaled up. The bureaucracy in funding access for the community in terms of climate financing is an existing challenge,” said Rosemary Atieno, the co-founder of women centers international (WCCI) in Uganda.

Atieno who is also the director of community mobilization for positive empowerment -COMPE noted that there is a need of proper approach to change the processes.

Atieno further said the problem gets compounded by the nature of the organization, more specifically for those classified as local or community-based organizations.

Charles Mwangi, Head of Programmes at the PACJA also noted that while local communities have demonstrable knowledge of it means to adapt to climate change, those with the means to boost their work were busy concerned with procedures and process.

“This frustrate locally led climate actors at the grassroot,” said Mwangi.

While sharing experience on community engagement in terms of finding solutions altogether, Mwangi said PACJA initiated a locally led- initiative in Kenya with the aim of building resilience of local communities during COVID-19 and learnt that local communities have immense knowledge that can be utilized to address climate adaptation.

Participants noted that working with local communities has taught them the lesson that core knowledge is with local communities and hence procedures of access to finance should be broken to ease their intervention.

Sylvia Calderon from USAID Colombia called upon governments to integrate the component of capacity building of local communities to better understand the dynamics in accessing climate finances.

"We need to streamline application processes on financing to ensure that from donor to the community is easier “she said.

Citing examples from Colombia, Sylvia said working with communities have shown that "Indeed the communities were at the center of their humanitarian work and urged that finance controls and power need to be shifted to local partners to trigger locally led principles”.

Climate finance has been on the top agenda of COP27. CSOs, and government leaders are discussing on how climate finance should be geared to address challenges arising from Climate Change.

COP27 opened on 6^th November, 2022 at Sharm El Sheikh International Conference Center in Egypt with calls for parties to implement the famous Paris Agreement.

At COP21 held in Paris, governments agreed that mobilizing stronger and more ambitious climate actions is urgently required to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.

The Paris Agreement formally acknowledges the urgent need to scale up global response to climate change and that actions must come from governments, cities, regions, businesses and investors, according to UNFCCC.

Courtesy of PACJA and UNFCCC

Landmark MOU signed to Promote Financing and Execution of Climate Action Projects in Africa

2022-11-09T04:59:00.002-08:00

By Charles Ogallo

The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC), Signed a Landmark MoU with Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) Member States Utilizing ICIEC’s De-risking Solutions.

The MoU was signed on November, 9 by Mr. Oussama Kaissi, Chief Executive Officer of ICIEC, and Mallam Samaila D. Zubairu, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the AFC, in Sharm El Sheikh during the occasion of the COP27 gathering.

The two parties agreed Tuesday to cooperate in promoting joint action in the origination, financing and execution of Climate Change projects through ICIEC’s credit and investment insurance support in African Member states

AFC is the leading multilateral infrastructure development finance institution in Africa .

ICIEC and peer multilaterals have an important role in contributing to the international climate finance ecosystem. It is committed to further boosting its green and sustainable finance operations.

Sustainable investment, climate action, adaptation and finance, and Green Finance are firmly embedded in the due diligence process of both institutions through linking all new business and other queries with SDG and climate action indicators.

Promoting climate action through capacity development, resilient financing, and policy support in climate adaptation infrastructure and through the provision of risk mitigation and credit enhancement covers the mandates of both ICIEC and AFC

The MoU recognizes that co-operation between AFC and ICIEC would bring about better co-ordination and more efficient implementation of their respective activities to the benefit of Climate Action projects, including renewable energy production in ICIEC member states, including in Africa region.

In this respect, the two institutions under the 3-year MoU will exchange information on their respective renewable energy project pipelines on a regular basis, with a view to explore origination, financing, insuring and delivery of such projects focusing especially on the renewable energy sector.

The AFC has a proactive relationship with the IsDB Group and has even raised infrastructure funding through the issuance of a Sukuk.

Mr Oussama Kaissi, Chief Executive Officer of ICIEC, strongly welcomed the signing of the MoU with AFC: “This MoU further enhances ICIEC’s evolving playbook on Climate action and risk mitigation whether it relates to financing, underwriting, credit enhancement, and risk management. It is also yet another example of South-South Cooperation and the recognition that Africa has to come up with African financing solutions to finance African needs. We look forward to building on this important relationship with AFC in this key area of Climate Action infrastructure.”

The MOU comes at a critical time when African countries are struggling to get enough funding for implementation of their climate projects in a bid to mitigate and adapt to drastic and adverse effects of climate change across the continent.

51 out of 53 African countries that submitted Nationally determined contributions have provided data on the costs of implementing their NDCs, according to a Climate Policy Initiative report which concludes that around USD 2.8 trillion are required between 2020 and 2030 to implement Africa’s NDCs.

The success of this year’s UN climate summit in Egypt ultimately rests on its ability to get money flowing from wealthy countries to those most in need – at the pace and scale required to match the climate crisis.

Africa calls for end of Climate Injustices, Hands over Climate Justice Torch to COP27 Presidency

2022-11-09T03:40:00.002-08:00

By Charles Ogallo

Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) Friday November 4 in Sharma El Sheikh, Egypt handed over three-month long Climate Justice Torch campaign messages to the Egyptian Presidency of the 27^th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, with calls for immediate actions to address adverse effects of climate change in the continent.

PACJA is a consortium of more than 1000 organizations from 48 African countries that brings together a diverse membership drawn from Grassroots, Community-based organizations, Faith-based Organizations, Non-Governmental organizations, Trusts, Foundations, Indigenous Communities, Farmers and Pastoralist Groups with a shared vision to advance a people-centered, right-based, just and inclusive approach to address climate and environmental challenges facing humanity and the planet.

Mithika Mwenda, the Executive Director of PACJA while handing over the torch to the COP27 presidency, said the torch has been moving from country to country since being launched in Libreville, Gabon in August, 2022.

“In every country the Climate Justice Torch campaign has moved to, it has carried the message of hope from various African communities and the messages collected will be presented at COP27,” he said while handing over the Torch to by Mr. Amr Essam, the COP27 Presidency responsible for Youth and Civil Society.

Mithika said they gathered for the demonstration together with the youth to signify efforts by the current and future generation in tackling climate change.

“We have no Planet B. This planet belongs to all of us whether you come from the north, all from the south, whether you are young or you are old, whether you come from Africa or elsewhere. This torch is just illuminating we hope it’s going to spotlight on key African issues,” said Mithika and several youth leaders from around Africa.

Tumal Orto Galdibe was one of participants of marchers,a pastoralist from Marsabit County, Northern Kenya.

According to Galdibe, pastoralists in Kenya and the horn of Africa face unprecedented effects of Climate change. “Pastoralists are losing their livestock and with that, their livelihoods. We are suffering loss and damages for the mistakes that we never caused,” he said.

Mrs. Florence Kasule from Uganda said many years ago in her country they never faced the effects of Climate change including drought and flooding. She said that now lives are being lost due to climate change and hence at this COP27, this need to be addressed.

“We came here to raise our voices as mothers and parents representing the children, women, Marginalized groups and the youth from East Africa so that it can be taken to people who are polluting so that the address climate finance and loss and damage.” she reiterated.

Abu Stephen Monday, the programme Manager of the Nigeria- based Climate and Sustainable Development Network informed the COP27 presidency representative that West Africa has been under serious effects of climate change.

“West Africa is bleeding from the adverse effects of climate change as some parts of West Africa are hit by drought. Animals are dying. There is a growing insecurity resulting from ever decreasing resources available leading to clashes between herders and farmers,” said Stephen.

Stephen added that in the recent weeks, flooding has become another problem for Nigeria where 21 states out of 36 are affected by floods. He said that flooding destroyed resources and businesses.

“We are calling for COP 27 to deliver for Africa and if it is to deliver for Africa, then loss and damage should be taken as critical issue. The issue of climate finance for adaptation should be taken as critical issue, “he demanded.

Speaking to marchers of the civil society, Amr Essam, The COP27 Presidency responsible for Youth and Civil Society reiterated that COP27 is an opportunity for Africans.

“Africa should not stay forever a victim of climate injustice. This needs to be rectified and this message needs to be amplified. No one is in better place to say it than the African Civil Society. The African Youth, the African vulnerable communities, pastoralists, farmers, African scientists, women whose climate change impact is becoming a reality – and how they live the life and how they make their livelihoods.”

He stressed that “the story of Africa and Climate change should not always be a story of risks, diverse impacts of climate risks, catastrophes, cyclones, and lives and livelihoods that are being lost. Rather a story that Africa is of power of solutions and added that all that Africa needs is capacity development.

It is expected that during the COP27, issues of loss and damage, and climate finance will dominate discussions.

The Climate Justice Torch, an initiative of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, has been used as a mobilization campaign tool to raise interest among the African public and various African voices towards a common position as the continent prepared to host the 27th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Climate Justice Torch campaign has crisscrossed African nations beginning from Gabon, Senegal, Morocco, and DR Congo, Kenya, Zambia, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Chad, Namibia among others.

COP27 Opens with calls for full implementation of Paris Agreement

2022-11-08T23:57:00.010-08:00

By Charles Ogallo

This year's United Nations Climate Change Conference COP27 opened Sunday, November 6 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt with the key aim of ensuring full implementation of the Paris Agreement, according to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change-UNFCCC.

Paris Agreement, the legally binding international treaty on climate change was adopted by 196 Parties at COP 21 in Paris, on 12 December 2015 and entered into force on 4 November 2016 to limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.

UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell said in his opening address said “COP27 sets out a new direction for a new era of implementation: where outcomes from the formal and informal process truly begin to come together to drive greater climate progress — and accountability for that progress.

Stiell asked governments to focus on three critical areas at COP27. The first is a transformational shift to implementation of the Paris Agreement and putting negotiations into concrete actions.

“COP27 sets out a new direction for a new era of implementation: where outcomes from the formal and informal process truly begin to come together to drive greater climate progress — and accountability for that progress,” Mr. Stiell said.

The second is cementing progress on the critical workstreams of mitigation, adaptation, finance and loss and damage, while stepping up finance notably to tackle the impacts of climate change.

The third is enhancing the delivery of the principles of transparency and accountability throughout the UN Climate Change process.

Talks at the COP27 began November 6 as millions of people throughout the world continue to face devastating floods and unprecedented heat waves, severe droughts and formidable storms, all unequivocal signs of the unfolding climate emergency.

The 27th Conference Of Parties popularly COP27 also come when the world continues to confront the impacts of simultaneous crises in energy, food, water and cost of living, aggravated by adverse effects of climate change, according to the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC report.

COP27 is also taking place against the backdrop of inadequate ambition to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

IPCC had warned that CO2 emissions need to be cut 45% by 2030, compared to 2010 levels to meet the central Paris Agreement goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of this century.

This is crucial to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, including more frequent and severe droughts, heatwaves and rainfall.

A report published by UN Climate Change ahead of COP27 shows that whilst countries are bending the curve of global greenhouse gas emissions downward, efforts remain insufficient to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.

Since COP26 in Glasgow, only 29 out of 194 countries came forward with tightened national plans.

“With the Paris Rulebook essentially concluded thanks to COP26 in Glasgow last year, the litmus test of this and every future COP is how far deliberations are accompanied by action. Everybody, every single day, everywhere in the world, needs to do everything they possibly can to avert the climate crisis,” said Stiell.

COP27 Presidency vision based on human needs

The Egyptian COP27 Presidency set out an ambitious vision for this COP that puts human needs at the heart of our global efforts to address climate change.

The Presidency intends to focus the world’s attention on key elements that address some of the most fundamental needs of people everywhere, including water security, food security, health and energy security.

Sameh Shoukry, Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs and COP27 President said: “We’re gathering this year at a time when global climate action is at a watershed moment. Multilateralism is being challenged by geopolitics, spiraling prices, and growing financial crises, while several countries battered by the pandemic have barely recovered, and severe and depleting climate change-induced disasters are becoming more frequent.

COP27 creates a unique opportunity in 2022 for the world to unite, to make multilateralism work by restoring trust and coming together at the highest levels to increase our ambition and action in fighting climate change. COP27 must be remembered as the ‘Implementation COP’ – the one where we restore the grand bargain that is at the centre of the Paris Agreement.”

Highlights of COP27

Monday and Tuesday was the World Leaders Summit with the presence of Royalty and more than 100 Heads of State or Government.

The World Leaders Summit provides all Heads of State or Government with the opportunity to set the stage for COP27.

Other Key Events

According to UNFCCC, a number of key Ministerial and other events around current climate change efforts will take place during the COP. These include a first ministerial round table on pre-2030 ambition and continued discussions on the global stocktake – a process for countries and stakeholders to see where they’re collectively making progress towards meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement — and where they’re not.

These discussions got underway at the Bonn Climate Change Conference in June 2022 and will pick up where they left off at COP27.

Together, all events provide Ministers and participants with a space to have frank and open discussions on progress made to date.

A High-Level Segment mostly attended by Ministers will take place in the second week of the COP, from 15-18 November.

Global Climate Action

Climate Action undertaken by a diversity of stakeholders working to support the implementation of the Paris Agreement will be showcased throughout COP27.

The COP27 Presidency will host a series of events in thematic days from 9-17 November which will highlight practical solutions to the challenge of climate change and explore approaches to immediately scale up the implementation of these solutions in key sectors with all stakeholders.

Under the guidance of two high-level climate Champions, Nigel Topping (UK) and Mahmoud Mohieldin (Egypt) progress, plans and targets for a range of sectors and initiatives will be presented in dozens of events in the Climate Action Zone in COP.

These events will focus on the overarching theme of turning climate pledges into climate action in pursuit of net-zero emissions, enhanced resilience for the most vulnerable, and aligning financial flows with these goals.

In addition, UNFCCC supported sectoral initiatives in sectors such as sports, fashion, tourism, events and aviation and will announce higher ambition and increased collaboration to align these sectors with the 1.5 degree Celsius target of the Paris Agreement.

Courtesy: UN Climate Change/UNFCCC

Cut global emissions by 7.6 percent every year for next decade to meet 1.5°C Paris target - UN report

2019-11-26T02:04:00.008-08:00


The world targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 1.5°C temperature and limit climate change

On current unconditional pledges, the world is heading for a 3.2°C temperature rise
Technologies and policy knowledge exist to cut emissions, but transformations must begin now
G20 nations account for 78 per cent of all emissions, but 15 G20 members have not committed to a timeline for net-zero emissions

By Charles Ogallo

On the eve of a year in which nations are due to strengthen their Paris climate pledges, a new UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report warns that unless global greenhouse gas emissions fall by 7.6 per cent each year between 2020 and 2030, the world will miss the opportunity to get on track towards the 1.5°C temperature goal of the Paris Agreement.

UNEP’s annual Emissions Gap Report says that even if all current unconditional commitments under the Paris Agreement are implemented, temperatures are expected to rise by 3.2°C, bringing even wider-ranging and more destructive climate impacts. Collective ambition must increase more than fivefold over current levels to deliver the cuts needed over the next decade for the 1.5°C goal.

2020 is a critical year for climate action, with the UN climate change conference in Glasgow aiming to determine the future course of efforts to avert crisis, and countries expected to significantly step up their climate commitments.

"For ten years, the Emissions Gap Report has been sounding the alarm – and for ten years, the world has only increased its emissions,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres. “There has never been a more important time to listen to the science. Failure to heed these warnings and take drastic action to reverse emissions means we will continue to witness deadly and catastrophic heatwaves, storms and pollution.”

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has warned that going beyond 1.5°C will increase the frequency and intensity of climate impacts.

“Our collective failure to act early and hard on climate change means we now must deliver deep cuts to emissions – over 7 per cent each year, if we break it down evenly over the next decade,” said Inger Andersen, UNEP’s Executive Director. “This shows that countries simply cannot wait until the end of 2020, when new climate commitments are due, to step up action. They – and every city, region, business and individual – need to act now.”

“We need quick wins to reduce emissions as much as possible in 2020, then stronger Nationally Determined Contributions to kick-start the major transformations of economies and societies. We need to catch up on the years in which we procrastinated,” she added. “If we don’t do this, the 1.5°C goal will be out of reach before 2030.”

G20 nations collectively account for 78 per cent of all emissions, but only five G20 members have committed to a long-term zero emissions target.

In the short-term, developed countries will have to reduce their emissions quicker than developing countries, for reasons of fairness and equity. However, all countries will need to contribute more to collective effects. Developing countries can learn from successful efforts in developed countries; they can even leapfrog them and adopt cleaner technologies at a faster rate.

Crucially, the report says all nations must substantially increase ambition in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), as the Paris commitments are known, in 2020 and follow up with policies and strategies to implement them. Solutions are available to make meeting the Paris goals possible, but they are not being deployed fast enough or at a sufficiently large scale.

Each year, the Emissions Gap Report assesses the gap between anticipated emissions in 2030 and levels consistent with the 1.5°C and 2°C targets of the Paris Agreement. The report finds that greenhouse gas emissions have risen 1.5 per cent per year over the last decade. Emissions in 2018, including from land-use changes such as deforestation, hit a new high of 55.3 gigatonnes of CO₂ equivalent.

To limit temperatures, annual emissions in 2030 need to be 15 gigatonnes of CO₂ equivalent lower than current unconditional NDCs imply for the 2°C goal; they need to be 32 gigatonnes lower for the 1.5°C goal. On an annual basis, this means cuts in emissions of 7.6 per cent per year from 2020 to 2030 to meet the 1.5°C goal and 2.7 per cent per year for the 2°C goal.

To deliver on these cuts, the levels of ambition in the NDCs must increase at least five fold for the 1.5°C goal and threefold for the 2°C.

Climate change can still be limited to 1.5°C, the report says. There is increased understanding of the additional benefits of climate action – such as clean air and a boost to the Sustainable Development Goals. There are many ambitious efforts from governments, cities, businesses and investors. Solutions, and the pressure and will to implement them, are abundant.

As it does each year, the report focuses on the potential of selected sectors to deliver emissions cuts. This year it looks at the energy transition and the potential of efficiency in the use of materials, which can go a long way to closing the emissions gap.

Plastic waste is evil, INEOS calls for zero tolerance policies

2019-10-12T02:53:00.004-07:00

By Charles Ogallo

Plastics are fundamental to modern life but plastic waste is an issue in sharp focus like never before, according to INEOS, one of the World largest chemicals producers , as it calls on governments globally to adopt zero tolerance policies against littering

The company says plastic is valuable just like glass, metal, and paper but plastic waste becomes evil especially when it is badly handled adding that giving up om plastic may not ultimately be the solution to global wastes problems.

Owned by British billionaire chemical engineer turned financier and industrialist Sir James Arthur Ratcliffe, the company calls for further innovations on plastic waste recycling technologies and a global approach towards solving the global problem,

This comes as reports show oceans chocking with mou

ntains of plastic wastes threatening the entire marine ecosystem across the world.

Between 60-80 per cent marine pollution is composed of plastic, according to a report dubbed, Plastics and Shallow Water Coral Reefs, presented at the Fourth UN Environment Assembly held early last year in Nairobi..

The report spotlights the current science on the impact of plastics on shallow water coral reefs and provides recommendations for policy-makers for addressing and reducing these impacts which include unprecedented levels of decline in reef health and coral cover across the globe.

The report indicates that hundreds of millions of people and industries worth billions of dollars depend on healthy shallow water coral reefs. Yet, these fragile ecosystems face threat from human activity, including climate change and pollution.

Plastic waste pollution has always come into sharp focus during UN Environment meetings with environment experts calling for sustainable global solutions,

According to head of UN Environment’s coral reef unit, Jerker Tamelander “Marine plastic litter pollution is already affecting more than 800 marine species through ingestion, entanglement and habitat change,”

“Waste continues to leak from land, and coral reefs are on the receiving end. They also trap a lot of fishing gear as well as plastic lost from aquaculture. With the impacts of climate change on coral reef ecosystems already significant, the additional threat of plastics must be taken seriously.” says Jerker Tamelander

However, INEOS insists that Plastic has changed the world like no other material and is fundamental to everyday life and that giving up on it would not be the answer. What’s needed is a wave of change.

“We believe it is not about saying no to plastic but saying no to throwing away plastic.We also need to talk about how that rubbish ended up in those rivers, on beaches, and in the ocean and what we can do about it” the company says in an articular published in it's website.

Water bottles are seen as a major nuisance for the environment across the world with many littering rivers, the Indian Ocean, forests and even drainage.

Kenya's ban on Plastic

Kenya government declared a ban on plastic bags in 2018 as part of her spirited fight against plastic waste pollution in the country.

President Uhuru Kenyatta recently announced also a ban on single-use plastics in beaches, national parks, forests and conservation areas across the country.

According to the President , the ban will take effect on June 5, 2020. Therefore no

Kenyan going to the beach or national parks while carrying water bottles, plastic plates, plastic cups as well as plastic spoons and forks will face arrest immediately the ban comes into force.

The writer's contacts:
kogallo2030@gmail.com

+254-720504864

@OgalloCharles

UN Gender Action Plan to address Climate Change impacts on Women and Girls

2018-05-11T05:28:00.002-07:00

KOJA NEWS

The Gender Action Plan (GAP) of the United Nation Climate Change recognizes the differentiated impacts of climate change on women and men, according to UN Climate Change News.

Climate Change experts from all around the world who gathered at UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn, Germany early May, 2018 agreed to step up action on gender and climate change through the GAP.

GAP supports the gender-related actions under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change with respect to the Paris Agreement.

It also urges immediate advancement of women’s participation, promotes gender-responsive climate policy and mainstreaming of the gender perspectives in the Paris Agreement’s implementation.

"We know that the role of women as agents of change and their participation in the political process contributes to the transformation of our society towards a low-carbon and resilient development", said Jeniffer Hanna Collado of the Dominican Republic’s National Council for Climate Change and the Clean Development Mechanism during the Bonn meetings.

The Bonn conference which was attended also by researchers from the civil societies and public sector highlighted solutions on how to intensify the implementation of the GAP, including how to address the impacts of climate change on women and girls in climate action.

They further explored some of the currently available resources to create gender-responsive climate policies and good practices for addressing gender and climate change, including the importance of having gender-analysis and sex-dis aggregated data.

According to Climate Change experts, women and girls remains among the most vulnerable groups of populations when it comes to climate since in many regions of the world, women and girls rely on natural resources for their work and livelihood.

Their access to resources and rights to land ownership are also often limited.

The Bonn Climate Change Conference was held from 30 April to 10 May 2018 a head of Conference of Parties COP 24 in Katowice, USA later this year.

Civil society groups also had an action during the conference to demand for expulsion of polluters from sessions while urging for more urgent climate action from governments to respect 1.5 C global warming target mentioned in Paris Agreement.

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SOTU Print Journalists Competition 2016

2016-05-19T01:09:00.000-07:00

By Kojanews Team

Call for Submissions

The State of the Union Coalition (SOTU) calls out for submissions of articles from journalists working in the 10 African countries SOTU has membership; Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Senegal, Kenya, Rwanda, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa and Tunisia. The competition is open to African journalists reporting on Human Rights and Governance issues in the print and digital media. Deadline: 31^st May 2016 at 11:59 (GMT +3).

Background

The State of the Union Coalition (SOTU) is a coalition of civil society organizations working together to advocate for the ratification, domestication, and implementation of African Union (AU) instruments (i.e. treaties, policy frameworks and standards). SOTU believes that the successful implementation of these instruments will have tremendous and positive impact on the lives millions of African citizens. www.sotu-africa.org

Theme: Human Rights and Governance in Africa Categories:

Your article must fall into one of these categories;

1. Corruption
2. Food Security
3. Women
4. Youth

Eligibility and Dates

The competition is open to all bona fide practising journalists from Africa who must be African Citizens.
We are looking at having new and fresh submissions that must have been published in May 2016.
The articles must make reference to at least 1 of the 14 SOTU focus AU legal instruments & policy standards. Refer to them on; http://www.sotu-africa.org/about-us

Class of Entries

– Print and Digital

Language
Entries must be in the 4 select African Union languages;
i) English ii) French iii) Portuguese and iv) Arabic
Broad Rules of the competition

– The competition shall be open to all print media journalists who are citizens of AU member states and who are based in Africa and whose publications are published in AU member states.
– Winners will be selected from the 10 participating countries, 1 each from print and online/digital. Additionally, there will be 2 regional winners and an overall winner.
– Each journalist entering the competition shall be required to show proof that he/she is a citizen of an AU member state
– Each entry shall be accompanied by full names of the writer, the name and contact details of his/her employer, his/ her position in the news organisation and region from where the entry is emanating:
– Should you be selected, a written confirmation on official letterhead from the media organisation employing the journalists, confirming his/ her employment in the agency and confirming the dates of publication of all the submitted entries will be required.
– On receipt, the entries will be judged by a competent panel of judges established by the SOTU coalition.
– Entries from qualified female journalists are encouraged.

How to enter

– Fill in the entry form. Click on the link to download http://bit.ly/24xrNIq
– Submit your entry and the filled form via email submissions@sotu-africa.org
– You will be notified if your entry is shortlisted

Submissions sent without the required accompanying documentation will be disqualified. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into after the closing dates.
Prizes
Winners in each of the categories will receive $500 and the overall winner will receive an additional cash prize of $500
Selection Criteria
Entries will be evaluated on their potential to educate and inform diverse audiences about issues related to African Union Agenda in line with the theme of the awards. The judges will score entries on the following criteria.

– Accuracy and fairness
– Present innovative or enhanced approach on issues
– Relevance to the public policy and debate
– Easily understood by the targeted audience
– Quality of presentation

Opening and closing dates for submissions

– Entries for the competition will be opened on 1^st May 2016 and will close 31^st May 2016.
– Winners will be informed in June 2016.

How to submit
Interested journalists are invited to submit entries to the SOTU Secretariat. The entries for print should be a scanned copy of the published article with accompanying word version, for digital send a link and a word copy of the article.
Submissions should be sent electronically to submissions@sotu-africa.org

For more information visit http://www.sotu-africa.org/blog/sotu-journalist-competition-2016/
Victor Nyambok | State of the Union (SOTU) Communications Officer

SOTU is collaborating with the African Media Initiative to convene an African Editors' Roundtable on the African Union in Accra, Ghana, on June 11-12, 2016.

Nairobi gears up for UN Environment Assembly

2016-05-06T14:07:00.001-07:00

By Charles Ogallo,

Previous gathering of the UN Assembly.

Governments and civil societies around the globe are gearing up for the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-2) set to be held from 23 to 27 May 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya.

Under the theme Delivering on the Environmental Dimension of 2030 Agenda for sustainable Development, the UNEA-2 delegates will be meeting at the UNEP headquarters based at Gigiri , Nairobi with a focus on Healthy Environment and Healthy People issues..

Various sessions have been lined up including a Ministerial Policy-Review Session where Governments’ Ministers will be setting agenda of discussion on International environmental policy and governance.

Illegal trade in wildlife, Science-policy interface, Chemicals and waste, Marine plastic debris, Ecosystem-based adaptation, Global Environment Monitoring System/Water Programme, Sustainable development and poverty eradication are among important topics of discussions, according to a provisional Agenda of the 5 day conference.

Major groups and stakeholders including civil societies will also be participating in the conference.

“Major groups and Stakeholders MGS have a critical role in supporting the decision making process at UNEA 2, by engaging with governments’, sharing their expert knowledge and by ensuring that the voice of those who might be affected by decisions taken, is heard” says a statement from the UNEP headquarters.

The Writer/Correspondent can be reached through;
Email; kogallo2030@gmail.com

Mobile; +254-720504864

Former Norway’s Environment Minister to head UNEP

2016-05-05T06:27:00.003-07:00

By Charles Ogallo.

Mr Erik Solhein, New UNEP Chief.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Mr Erik Solhein , the former Norway’s Minister for the Environment as the next Executive Director of the Nairobi based United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Mr Solhein who is currently the chairman of the Development Assistance Committee of the organization for Economic Cooperation and Development OECD was appointed Tuesday following consultations between the UN Secretary General and the Chairpersons of the regional groups of member states.

“United Nations Secretary Genral Ban Ki-moon , following consultations with the Chairpersons of the regional groups of member states has informed the General Assembly of his intention to appoint Erik Solhein of Norway as the new Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme UNEP” say s a statement released Wednesday through UNEP website.

Mr. Solhein held also the post of Norway;’s Minister for Environment and International Development between 2007 and 2012. He also served as Norway’s Minister for International Development from 2005 to 2007.

The Norwegian politician had also worked as a diplomat and a participant in the Norwegian delegation that unsuccessfully attempted to resolve the Sri Lankan Civil War before the outbreak of Eelam War IV between 1987 and 1997.

He takes over from Achin Steiner who has led the 44 year old UNEP since 2006

The UNEP’s outgoing Executive Director welcomed the Secretary General’s announcement and congratulated Mr Solhein for his appointment as the sixth Executive Director of the International organization.

"I congratulate Erik Solhein on his nomination to become the Sixth Executive Director in UNEP’s 44-year history.Mr Solhein was a strong supporter of UNEP during his tenure as Minister of Environment and International Development of Norway and continued to offer his good offices in later years” says Mr Steiner.

Mr. Steiner, a German and Brazilian national, was born in Brazil in 1961.

See more at: http://unep.org/newscentre/Default.aspx?DocumentID=27074&ArticleID=36162&l=en#sthash.XRuU5bxT.TcmXgbCp.dpuf

The Writer/Correspondent can be reached through;
Email; kogallo2030@gmail.com
Mobile; +254-720504864

Ban Ki-moon formally appoints Espinosa to head UNFCCC

2016-05-03T12:47:00.000-07:00

By Charles Ogallo.

Former Mexican Diplomat Patricia Espinosa

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has finally appointed Patricia Espinosa from Mexico as the new Executive Secretary of the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Espinosa who did a great job in leading the Cancun COP in 2010 takes over from the out-going UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres who prepares to step down in July this year.

The ex-Mexican Foreign Minister's appointment follows approval from the bureau of UNFCCC in Bonn Germany.

Christiana Figueres announced recently she will be stepping down in July after the successful Paris climate agreement to cut emissions.

The 59-year-old Costa Rican Thursday welcomed Espinosa's appointment saying
“I consider Patricia Espinosa the right person at the right time for advancing the historic Paris Climate Change Agreement”.

Figueres had earlier noted she would not accept any extension of her term as head of the Bonn-based UN Climate Change Secretariat after what she called the historic Paris Agreement.

“The journey that lies ahead will require continued determination, ingenuity and, above all, our collective sense of humanity and purpose,” she wrote in a letter to governments, which agreed a goal in Paris to cut greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2100.

According to UN Climate Change Newsroom, Ms. Espinosa has more than 30 years of experience at highest levels in international relations, specializing in climate change, global governance, sustainable development and protection of human rights.

Since 2012, she has been serving as Ambassador of Mexico to Germany, a position she also held from 2001 to 2002. She previously served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mexico from 2006 to 2012.

Story courtesy of UNFCCC .
The Writer/Correspondent can be reached through;
Email; kogallo2030@gmail.com
Mobile; +254-720504864

New resource on Hepatitis C for Journalists worldwide

2015-08-04T13:19:00.000-07:00

The World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ) on Tuesday launched a new initiative to help journalists report on the staggering toll of Hepatitis C (HCV) as well as the scientific and political barriers to treating the disease.

Launched on World Hepatitis Day (July 28, 2015), the new website www.wfsj.org/hepatitis/ presents resources written by journalists for journalists to expose the complex issues preventing effective prevention and treatment of the disease as well as a database of HCV experts from around the world who can be interviewed on a range of issues– from physician/scientists and patient groups, to public policy experts.

According to the World Federation of Science Journalists, the global disease burden of viral hepatitis is staggering.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 130-150 million people have chronic HCV worldwide, and most of them are not even aware they are infected.

People with chronic HCV have a high risk of developing serious life threatening liver diseases.

Despite the risk, there is relatively little media coverage of the HCV pandemic and the public remains largely uninformed about the transmission, detection, health risks, treatment prospects, and state of government health policy for HCV.

WFSJ Global Media Education Initiative www.wfsj.org/hepatitis/ now provides journalists around the world with the tools, data, and contacts to accurately explore the latest developments about the HCV crisis - from the latest research to the reasons why new treatments are not accessible to the majority of people suffering from the disease.

The resources are organized by theme and are specifically designed to help journalists provide strong and accurate coverage of HCV.

The modules also include video interviews with leading experts including Charles Gore (President, Word Hepatitis Alliance), Dr. Michel-Pawlotsky (Professor of Medicine, University of Paris-Est), and Dr. Karine Lacombe (Assistant Professor, Infectious and tropical Diseases, Saint-Antoine Hospital (AP-HP)).

According the new website www.wfsj.org/hepatitis, the World Federation of Science Journalists is also launching a new database of viral Hepatitis experts from around the world who speak different languages.

This database will be regularly updated and expanded. These expert sources vetted by the WFSJ are appointed to serve on the database for a period of one year at a time, and have expressed a willingness to share their expertise and insights into viral hepatitis with the media.

Damien Chalaud, Executive Director of the World Federation of Science Journalists says — “This initiative marks a unique opportunity for journalists to not only learn about HCV, but to produce stories that will make an impact. The content and resources are specifically designed to help journalists produce accurate yet compelling reports about this complex human story, with its public health policy and socio-economic perspectives. We believe it will enable journalists to look deeper into the topic and change the way they approach the HCV narrative”.

Canadian health columnist André Picard (Globe and Mail), Poul Brich Eriksen (Former Executive Producer and Special Correspondent, Danish Broadcasting Corporation) and Dr. Roberta Villa (Health communicator and journalist. Health Editor, Zadig) wrote the education modules. Penny Park (Executive Director, Science Media Centre of Canada) was the acting program editor and reviewer.

The program was developed in partnership with the World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA) and supported by a seed donation from AbbVie.

Nairobi City Joins Global Climate Change Action Commitment.

2015-06-01T09:04:00.000-07:00

By Charles Ogallo.

Nairobi is among 402 cities across the world that have registered their commitments to the global long term climate change action as part of growing ambitions towards this year’s United Nations climate change conference in Paris.

Nairobi has also committed to double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency as well as set green house gas emission reduction goals by 2030.

The commitments comes as Kenya declares again to focus more on clean energy production in the country in order to benefit from what green economy offers.

Speaking Monday during this year’s Madaraka Day celebration at the heart of the city, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said his government has put in place plans to ensure one million more Kenyan households are connected to locally produced electricity.

“My government will focus more on production of clean energy as we continue to meet energy demands in the country” said President Kenyatta.

Since inception of Kenyatta Government in 2013, a lot has happened in terms of lighting up slum areas within and outside the capital city Nairobi with solar and other clean energy supply.

The online portal is designed to showcase several inspiring developments within the scope of the Lima-Paris Action Agenda and catalyze public –private sector action on climate change before and after 2020, when the Paris universal climate agreement will take effect.

The commitments from cities , businesses and investors housed and showcased in an updated version of of the Non-State Actor Zone for Climate Action-NAZCA portal - http://climateaction.unfccc.int/- will also add critical momentum towards the new universal climate agreement in December.

The NAZCA portal was originally launched at COP 20 in Lima where Peru’s Environment Minister and President of last year’s UN Climate Change Conference in Lima, Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, said the Nazca lines symbolize connection, action and movement.

The online registration process – in partnership with CDP, the Carbon Climate Registry and Global Investors on Climate Change – provides a simple system for ensuring that climate commitments are registered with the UN in time for Paris.

More Calls for Radical Shift in News Presentation.

2015-06-01T05:14:00.002-07:00

By KOJANEWS.

Journalists challenged to learn to write and publish news on mobile and other wearable devices while maintaining media and journalism ethics.

Participants in this year's World News Congress in Washington DC believe that a radical shift in News presentation was urgently required to ensure modern day journalists conform to the fast changing consumer habits.

The professionals including prominent editors and media experts from across the globe warn that many jorunalists are doom to perish unless they evolve fast and embrace new technologies.

For more details click; http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/article/2000164237/journalists-urged-to-go-digital-or-perish

Call for Application for Media 21 Africa: Journalism and climate change

2015-02-26T07:39:00.000-08:00

By KOJANET. COM

The call for applications is aimed at media organisations, independent journalists and/or bloggers based in Kenya, Tanzania and Madagascar who wish to develop or enhance their content in relation to subjects associated with the environment and global warming.

The project Media 21 Africa : Journalism and climate change aims to inform and raise awareness among the African media of the issues and opportunities at the Paris Climate 2015 conference.

The conference COP21, or Paris Climate 2015, will take place from 30 November to 11 December 2015.

For more details; http://www.ac.cfi.fr/en-GB/home-en/42:wed-25-feb-2015-17-58-12-0100.html

Is Ebola Outbreak a Global Health Disaster?

2014-08-14T00:09:00.001-07:00

By Charles Ogallo.

Fear of Ebola Outbreak has engulfed the entire world with increasing cases of infections and death from the deadly virus being reported daily across Africa.

Health workers across the globe have been put on high alert as World Health Organization WHO classifies several countries in Africa mainly West Africa as high risk areas for the deadly Ebola stain.

West African nations have been struggling to control both the deadly outbreak and the fear it has created.

WHO at a press conference in Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday named Kenya among African nations vulnerable to Ebola outbreak as a result of being major transport hubs in the region receiving 76 flights a week.

The U.N. health agency says 1,013 people have died so far in the Ebola outbreak in West Africa of the 1,848 suspected or confirmed cases recorded by authorities. The killer virus is spread by direct contact with bodily fluids like blood, diarrhea and vomit.

However more questions than answers are being raised as to whether the current Ebola strain could have come from illegally-trafficked apes.

According to Mongabay.org, the original explanation for the virus breaking out in this remote part of southeastern Guinea, near the borders of Sierra Leone and Liberia, was that people had eaten infected bush-meat.

"Fruit bats are thought to be the natural reservoir of all strains of Ebola virus, and they can pass it on to other species in various ways, including through their feces, dropping pieces of half-eaten fruit that other animals eat, or by being butchered and eaten themselves as bush-meat" Says the report.

UN Climate Technology Centre and Network gets New Director.

2014-01-18T04:14:00.000-08:00

Published by KOJANEWS.

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) announced on Friday the appointment of Jukka Uosukainen as the Director of the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN).

The CTCN, the operational arm of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Technology Mechanism, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve resilience to changing weather patterns, drought, soil erosion, and other impacts of climate change in developing nations.

CTCN Center in Finland

Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), congratulated Mr. Uosukainen and said that CTCN is now ready to fulfill its mandate by assisting developing countries to make informed decisions about mitigation and adaptation technologies that suit their needs.

“With the appointment of its new Director, the Climate Technology Centre and Network is now ready to make a substantive contribution to accelerating the use of existing and new technologies that can lead the way towards a low-carbon future and improve the lives and livelihoods of millions of people in developing countries, who are dealing with climate change impacts in their daily lives.” said Mr. Steiner.

The CTCN aims to overcome the historic challenges of mobilizing funds and eliminating policy and technical barriers to promote accelerated, diversified and scaled-up transfer of environmentally sound technologies for climate change mitigation and adaptation, consistent with the national socio-economic and sustainable development priorities of the requesting countries.

Jukka Uosukainen.

Mr. Jukka Uosukainen has worked in the national and international environmental sector for more than two decades, chairing and facilitating various UN committees, including of the UNFCCC and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). More recently, he served as the Special Envoy for Climate Change for the Government of Finland.

Christiana Figueres, the Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) also welcomed Jukka Uosukainen appointment saying his leadership will proceed to realize CTCN goal of accelerating and scaling-up clean energy, energy efficiency and technologies that can assist in combating and coping with climate change.

“I would like to congratulate Jukka Uosukainen for being chosen for this important role” she said.

Christiana Figueres-UNFCCC boss

“As nations work towards a new universal climate agreement in 2015, the fully operational CTCN provides an important signal that the global infrastructure to combat climate change is in place and can deliver," added Ms Figueres.

Expected outcomes of the CTCN's work are reduced greenhouse gas emission intensity and climate vulnerability as well as improved local innovative capacities. Private and public investment in adaptation and mitigation will be mobilized on a greater scale and collaboration and peer learning on technology transfer and deployment across and within developing countries will be the norm.

A Guidebook for Climate Change Journalists in Africa Released.

2014-01-16T21:39:00.000-08:00

Published by Kojanews.

The Book produced by UNESCO responds to a real need in African journalists reporting of complex phenomenon of Climate Change.

The Book entitled Climate Change in Africa; a guidebook for Journalists also answers to many needs of Africa Journalists especially the scientific interpretations of climate change, in-depth information on climate change,Tips for journalists reporting on climate change and sourcing for climate change stories using data.

For more details click http://pubs.iied.org/pdfs/G03710.pdf?

Its a win-win for CDM as COP19 ends in Warsaw,Poland.

2013-11-28T06:33:00.003-08:00

By Charles Ogallo.

The 19^th Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol came to an end in Warsaw City of Poland with a thumb up from delegates over Clean Development Mechanism.

This follows an agreement that Parties make greater use of the clean development mechanism -CDM to ensure the continued success of the mechanism beyond the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol with regard to its contribution to the achievement of the objective of the convention.

The over 2000 delegates expressed satisfaction with the success of the clean development mechanism in the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, which to date has been responsible for over 7,300 project activities being registered in over 90 countries.

1,500 components project activities have also been included in over 230 programmes of activities registered in more than 60 countries where over 1.4 billion certified emission reductions being issued for an investment of over USD 215 billion.

Concerns were however raised over current price fluctuation in the global carbon market in regards to difficult market situation currently faced by participants in the clean development mechanism and the consequent loss of institutional capacity related to the mechanism, both of which are threatening the value of the clean development mechanism as a tool for Parties to collaborate in achieving the objective of the Convention.

The Executive Board of the clean development mechanism was significantly commended for the substantial work undertaken over the past year which led to the success of the mechanism in the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol

“Being a girl, does not mean failure in life”

2013-11-15T01:37:00.000-08:00

By Charles Ogallo.

UNICEF estimates that 66 million girls across the world are out of school, and 1 in 7 of these girls marries before they reach age 15, especially in developing countries like Kenya.

The girls are often removed from school to prepare for weddings or to work in order to save for their dowry. Once married they are not permitted to continue with their education. So what next? see the link Because I am a Girl