African Union : continental union of 55 members.

The African Union (AU) plays a crucial role as a partner in the Africa Climate Summit 2023. With its commitment to addressing climate change and promoting sustainable development across the African continent, the AU brings significant expertise and resources to the table that can drive growth, and attract substantial new finance and investment partnerships.
Official AU website
Afircan Union

Overview

The advent of the African Union (AU) can be described as an event of great magnitude in the institutional evolution of the continent. On 9th September 1999, the Heads of State and Government of the Organisation of African Unity issued a Declaration (the Sirte Declaration) calling for the establishment of an African Union, with a view, inter alia, to accelerating the process of integration in the continent to enable it play its rightful role in the global economy while addressing multifaceted social, economic and political problems compounded as they are by certain negative aspects of globalisation.

Vision

The African Union (AU) envisions a prosperous, sustainable, and climate-resilient Africa that harnesses its natural resources, protects its ecosystems, and ensures the well-being of its people for generations to come.

Mission

The mission of the African Union is to drive collective action and cooperation among African nations to champion the delivery of the Green Growth Agenda, Climate Finance plan, and inviting presentations of transformative opportunities for partnerships that can drive growth, and attract substantial new finance and investment.

Goals

  1. Climate Leadership: The AU aims to position Africa as a global leader in climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts, advocating for equitable and ambitious climate action on regional and international platforms.
  2. Sustainable Development: The AU strives to integrate climate considerations into Africa's development agenda, promoting sustainable practices and policies that foster economic growth, social equity, and environmental stewardship.
  3. Resilience Building: The AU is committed to enhancing Africa's resilience to climate impacts, strengthening adaptation measures, and empowering vulnerable communities to cope with climate-related challenges.
  4. Policy Advocacy: The AU advocates for the development and implementation of climate policies and frameworks that prioritize Africa's unique needs, ensuring that African nations have a strong voice in global climate negotiations.

Approach

The AU takes a collaborative and inclusive approach to address climate change in Africa:
  1. Regional Cooperation: The AU fosters regional cooperation and coordination among African countries, facilitating knowledge-sharing, capacity-building, and the exchange of best practices to accelerate climate action across the continent.
  2. Stakeholder Engagement: The AU engages with governments, civil society organizations, private sector entities, and international partners to forge partnerships, promote dialogue, and mobilize resources for climate-related initiatives.
  3. Knowledge and Research: The AU promotes research, innovation, and the dissemination of climate-related knowledge to inform evidence-based decision-making, foster technological advancements, and drive sustainable development in Africa.

Achievements

The African Union has made significant strides in advancing climate action and sustainable development in Africa:
  1. The adoption of the African Union Agenda 2063, which includes integrating climate change considerations into the continent's long-term development strategy, ensuring sustainable growth, and prioritizing climate resilience.
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  2. The establishment of the African Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI), which aims to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy across the continent, providing clean and affordable energy access to African populations while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
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  3. The launch of the African Risk Capacity (ARC), an innovative climate risk insurance mechanism that helps African countries proactively respond to and recover from climate-related disasters, protecting vulnerable populations and reducing the financial burden on governments.
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  4. The development and implementation of the AU Climate Change Strategy, which outlines a comprehensive framework to guide climate action in Africa, focusing on mitigation, adaptation, technology transfer, capacity-building, and finance.
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