Zambia’s Leadership in Climate Negotiations Applauded as African Ministers Adopt COP28 Common Position

The African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN) has hailed the adoption of the Africa common position for COP28, demonstrating Zambia’s pivotal role in advocating for Africa’s interests in global climate negotiations. As Chair of the AGN, the Government of the Republic of Zambia expressed its commitment to safeguarding the continent’s priorities during the climate negotiation processes.

Following the conclusion of the 19th ordinary session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), ministers unanimously embraced the African common position, which was eloquently presented by Zambia on behalf of the AGN. This common position underlines the key priorities of the continent for the upcoming 28th session of the Conference of Parties (COP28) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The AMCEN, a significant annual gathering of African Environment Ministers aimed at reinforcing environmental governance, took place from August 14th to 18th, 2023, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This year’s theme, “Seizing opportunities and enhancing collaboration to address environmental challenges in Africa,” underscored the urgency of collective action to tackle pressing environmental concerns.

Hon. Eng. Collins Nzovu MP, the Minister of Green Economy and Environment, emphasized Africa’s unwavering commitment to achieving equitable outcomes from these climate processes. He expressed satisfaction with the adoption of the Africa common position for COP28 and looked forward to its endorsement by the Committee of Africa Heads of State on Climate Change. Hon. Nzovu reiterated the continent’s call for ambitious, balanced, and fair outcomes that effectively address various climate change dimensions, including adaptation, loss and damage, finance, and mitigation.

He highlighted COP28’s significance in terms of the Global Stocktake (GST) and stressed the need for the GST’s outcomes to acknowledge Africa’s distinct development context, providing the policy space required for sustainable and resilient development pathways.

The adopted common position enshrines other critical priorities for Africa, including:

• Strengthening Adaptation: Focusing on enhancing action in adaptation and resilience through the operationalization of the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) under the Paris Agreement.
• Loss and Damage Fund: Advocating for the operationalization of a Loss and Damage Fund to aid African countries in coping with irreversible climate change impacts and assisting affected communities.
• Just Transition Pathways: Urging the adoption of an ambitious decision to strengthen the global climate response while ensuring equity in the pathways for mitigation, adaptation, and finance under the Paris Agreement.

Moreover, AMCEN 19 lent its support to the development of the AGN Governance instrument, a significant program under Zambia’s AGN Chairmanship. This governance document is set to formalize core procedures for managing and administering the group and is anticipated to be adopted at COP28.

The adoption of the Africa common position underscores Zambia’s leadership in championing climate justice and equitable global responses to climate change, solidifying its commitment to shaping a sustainable future for the continent and beyond.