27 August 2015: The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) held an extraordinary meeting on climate change that concluded with the adoption of a ministerial declaration outlining a common position for Central Africa ahead of the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the UNFCCC, which is scheduled to take place from 30 November – 11 December 2015 in Paris, France.

The declaration details Central African countries’ position on: the legal nature of the agreement; intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs); technology transfer and capacity building; finance; mitigation and adaptation.

On the legal nature of the agreement, ministers call for the adoption of a universal, fair, equitable and legally binding agreement, engaging all parties and based on the Convention’s principles, in particular the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR).

Ministers encourage all ECCAS members to submit their INDCs. On technology, they support the transfer of clean technologies adapted to development in general, and in particular to ECCAS members. They also support the establishment and operationalization of national and sub-regional centers and networks on climate technologies.

On finance, they call on developed countries that have made pledges to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to honor their promises. Ministers also commit to: create a green economy fund in Central Africa to be hosted by the Central African Development Bank; set up flexible mechanisms to mobilize funds within the GCF; and create a development fund for the electricity sector, in particular for renewable energies. Ministers also invite the international community to support the implementation of the plan of the Central African Forest Commission (COMIFAC) on the conservation and sustainable development of forest ecosystems.

On mitigation, ministers reaffirm the commitment of ECCAS countries to contribute to efforts to maintain temperature increase to below 2ºC above pre-industrial levels and encourage the development of climate plans in line with national development strategies.

On adaptation, ministers commit to mainstream climate change in their development strategies and support the inclusion of green economy sectors in sustainable development policies. They also underline the need for institutional capacity building to develop adaptation plans. [ECCAS Website] [CBFP Press Release] [Declaration of ECCAS Ministers on COP 21]