Africa Climate Week: taking action on air pollution and climate change

When: Tuesday, 19 March, 09:30 – 12:30
Where: Accra International Conference Centre, Ghana

This round table is by invitation only.

Air pollution and climate change are closely linked. Designing policies with these connections in mind provides an opportunity to reap multiple-benefits, for the climate, for health and for development.

In order to deliver the Paris Agreement and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we need integrated approaches to the rapid reduction of air pollutants and greenhouse gases.

There are many paths we can take to reach these goals, but not all paths are the same. Some will generate significant benefits in the near term for climate and development priorities. Others will have chiefly longer-term benefits. Strategies that integrate all climate forcing air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions can set us on a path that rapidly reduces the rate of warming in the near-term, prevents millions of premature deaths from air pollution, protects against dangerous climate feedback loops, and contributes to the SDGs.

Integrating action on climate and air pollution in Africa

Africa has the second fastest growing economy of any region in the world, and more than half of global population growth between now and 2050 is expected to occur in Africa. Sustaining this growth without big increases in near-term environmental and health impacts requires integrated planning to identify cost effective and efficient solutions.

Africa is also considered particularly vulnerable to climate change. Climate adaptation is a key issue in Africa’s current and future development, therefore reducing the rate of warming in the near term is particularly relevant to Africa. Integrated solutions, such as those that target short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), can limit this warming and prove important to Africa.

In response to the needs of CCAC member countries, international agreements on sustainable development, and to tackle air quality and climate change, the CCAC has commissioned an African Integrated Assessment to enable science-based and fast-tracked action.

The Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) and UN Environment Programme, facilitated by SEI, are developing an assessment process for Africa to:

• determine how development in Africa can proceed at the same time as limiting air pollution and its impact on health and agriculture, and
• understand the potential to limit climate change in the near term, and the implications for adaptation to climate change in Africa.

The assessment will bring together practitioners working across Africa and will build a community of practice, integrating and enhancing existing science-policy-practice networks, to consider the role and potential of emission mitigation strategies to support development in Africa.

Getting involved in the assessment process

We seek to have many different stakeholders engaged throughout the development and implementation of this assessment. This will include national governments in Africa, academic institutions in Africa and globally, international inter-governmental organisations, NGOs and regional economic blocs.

Anyone interested in contributing to or finding out more about the African assessment is encouraged to contact one of the coordinating institutions:

Alice A. Kaudia: Assessment Network Coordination
Email: [email protected]

Kevin Hicks and Andriannah Mbandi: Assessment Coordination, Stockholm Environment Institute
Email: [email protected], [email protected]