The 23rd Annual Conference of the Parties to the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP23) was held in Bonn, Germany from 6 to 17 November, 2017. This is a very important forum especially in the wake of the current climate change challenges the world is facing today.
Among other things, the delegates revisited the Paris Agreement of 2015 whereby it was settled for increased funding towards climate change interventions in the developing countries. Lord Mayor of Bonn, Ashok Sridharan, delivered the Bonn-Fiji Commitment of Local and Regional Leaders to Deliver the Paris Agreement. Hundreds of local and regional leaders adopted the commitment on 16 November, 2017. Further to this, at least 15 countries joined an alliance against coal use which is the single biggest contributor to anthropogenic climate change. The burning of coal is responsible for 46% of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide and accounts for 72% of total greenhouse gas emissions from the electricity sector.
YONECO was represented by Jonas Kachikho, who is also a Project Coordinator for Stimulating Citizen and Public Engagement on Green and Incisive Energy for Sustainable Development which is funded by Hivos. Kachikho underscored the need for Malawi to innovatively find ways of adapting and mitigating the effects of climate change in Malawi.
“Malawians need to set their eyes on renewable energy technologies and as an agrarian society, we need to consider climate smart agriculture at all cost”, said Kachikho.
Issues of climate change have negatively impacted on socioeconomic welfare of most low income countries as compared to developed ones. There is also a need to ensure Green and inclusive energy interventions because women are the worst affect by energy poverty.
Annual Conference of the Parties to the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is a forum for the concerned public worldwide to begin or continue their engagement in the effort to combat global warming and the human activity that causes it. Thus, COP23 further enabled people to get information about climate change and its effects, learn about the objectives of COP23, read statements and speeches by the COP23 President, and find out more about innovative climate action initiatives and projects. The conference also highlighted various challenges that climate change presents to Fiji and other vulnerable areas around the globe.
