COP28: AGN Met African CSOs for a Briefing on the Progress of the Negotiations at COP28

It has been six days since over one hundred thousand participants gathered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for the 28th Conference of Parties (COP28).

This year, the eyes and expectations of delegates including African CSOs were put on the outcome of the first-ever post-Paris Agreement Global stock take sessions. On the sidelines of ongoing events and negotiations, African CSOs under the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance got the opportunity to meet with the Chair of the Africa Group of Negotiators, Mr. Ephraim Shitima Mwepya.

In its structure, the AGN comprises a leadership collective – the lead coordinators and strategic advisors – including thematic coordinators, previous chairs of the AGN, the AGN plenary which consists of UNFCCC focal points of each African country and their national delegations, as well as the AGN secretary.

The lead coordinators and strategic advisors meet at least three times a year to prepare group positions and strategies for the negotiation sessions for endorsement and adoption the by AGN plenary to maintain a unified African voice in the climate negotiations. All 54 African countries are members.

Three days ago,  the African Group of Negotiators submitted input on views of function, modalities, and work programme matters relating to the forum on the impact of the implementation of Response measures serving the Convention, the Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement.

In a brief meeting with the CSOs under PACJA, the AGN chair said that the negotiations are ongoing and that some agendas were adopted while others are still under discussion.

COP28 is the COP of accountability where parties are accessing the progress made in reducing GHG emissions. Responding to members of African CSOs, Mr Shitima said that the group of African Negotiators is still pushing for it to be comprehensive and fair by upgrading it to the political level.

At the beginning of COP28, leaders approved the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund and currently over 700 million are pledged by different countries. The establishment of this fund was approved at COP27 held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Commenting on the fund, the AGN Chair said that. WB has to accept the given conditions. The operationalization of the fund was done immediately and the floor was opened for statements to avoid hinderances.