The conference programme is presented in the appendix. Opening Remarks Welcoming remarks by Mr. Carlos Lopes, UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Secretary of ECA In his statement welcoming guests, the ECA executive secretary commended the Prime Minister of Ethiopia for his first outing at the UN conference center since assuming office, noting that it was testimony to the importance he attaches to tackling the vexing issue of climate change. He dedicated CCDA-II to the late Ethiopian Prime Minister Mr. Meles Zenawi for his regionally recognized climate change and development leadership in Africa. The ECA executive secretary further decried the stark truth that Africa is already being affected in various ways by climate change impacts. He cited increasing temperature, more frequent and severe incidents of drought and floods, retreats in snow coverage and rising sea levels, to mention a few obvious effects of climate change. Unlike most other regions, the ECA executive secretary singled out Africa as facing the challenge of adapting to climate change from the lower end of the development spectrum. In this respect, he noted, climate change will impact on sectors including health and energy. Water and sanitation will similarly be impacted by climate change and all the sectors will require appropriate policy responses. In his speech, Mr. Carlos lauded the CCDA-II theme Knowledge, Policy and Practice ‘Advancing in Climate Change and Development’ as being pertinent to the need for knowledge which is informed by practice to design policies that promote development in the face of climate change. With regard to the climate services sub-theme of the conference, the executive secretary noted the importance of climate science as a critical source of information for vulnerable groups including farmers and local communities. Lack of this critical knowledge, he emphasized, can be a significant handicap in the ability of populations to cope with climate change impacts, not to mention similar effects on the ability to embrace green growth. In addition and of significance note, Mr. Carlos aptly cited the daunting task before African countries in undertaking and implementing policies to respond to climate change. The three pan-African institutions, namely the ECA, AUC and AfDB are thus appropriately tasked with assisting governments to respond to this challenge. In conclusion, Mr. Carlos wished the conference participants fruitful deliberations and challenged them to come up with actionable points, giving the following two examples:
The conference programme is presented in the appendix. Opening Remarks Welcoming remarks by Mr. Carlos Lopes, UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Secretary of ECA In his statement welcoming guests, the ECA executive secretary commended the Prime Minister of Ethiopia for his first outing at the UN conference center since assuming office, noting that it was testimony to the importance he attaches to tackling the vexing issue of climate change. He dedicated CCDA-II to the late Ethiopian Prime Minister Mr. Meles Zenawi for his regionally recognized climate change and development leadership in Africa. The ECA executive secretary further decried the stark truth that Africa is already being affected in various ways by climate change impacts. He cited increasing temperature, more frequent and severe incidents of drought and floods, retreats in snow coverage and rising sea levels, to mention a few obvious effects of climate change. Unlike most other regions, the ECA executive secretary singled out Africa as facing the challenge of adapting to climate change from the lower end of the development spectrum. In this respect, he noted, climate change will impact on sectors including health and energy. Water and sanitation will similarly be impacted by climate change and all the sectors will require appropriate policy responses. In his speech, Mr. Carlos lauded the CCDA-II theme ‘Advancing Knowledge, Policy and Practice in Climate Change and Development’ as being pertinent to the need for knowledge which is informed by practice to design policies that promote development in the face of climate change. With regard to the climate services sub-theme of the conference, the executive secretary noted the importance of climate science as a critical source of information for vulnerable groups including farmers and local communities. Lack of this critical knowledge, he emphasized, can be a significant handicap in the ability of populations to cope with climate change impacts, not to mention similar effects on the ability to embrace green growth. In addition and of significance note, Mr. Carlos aptly cited the daunting task before African countries in undertaking and implementing policies to respond to climate change. The three pan-African institutions, namely the ECA, AUC and AfDB are thus appropriately tasked with assisting governments to respond to this challenge. In conclusion, Mr. Carlos wished the conference participants fruitful deliberations and challenged them to come up with actionable points, giving the following two examples: