7 December 2013: The Elysée Summit for Peace and Security in Africa concluded with the adoption of a Declaration that includes sections on peace and security, economic partnership and development, and climate change.

The Summit, which took place from 4-7 December 2013, in Paris, France, brought together government officials from 53 African countries, France and the European Union (EU), as well as representatives from UN agencies, the African Union (AU), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

In the Declaration, Heads of State and Government, inter alia: underline their commitment to develop a new binding agreement at the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 21); welcome the UN Secretary-General’s climate change summit; and stress the need to address both mitigation and adaptation at COP 21 and to provide means of implementation, particularly technology transfer and financial resources. They support building a simple, effective and ambitious financial architecture based on national ownership and call for operationalizing the Green Climate Fund (GCF) by COP 20 in December 2014.

In the Declaration, the Heads of State and Government also recommend immediately implementing adaptation measures, including climate-resilient infrastructure, with particular attention to the special needs of small island developing States (SIDS) and least developed countries (LDCs). The Declaration indicates France’s commitment to ensure all infrastructure projects it supports are resilient to climate change, beginning in 2015.

The Heads of State and Government further recommend maximizing the opportunities provided by the fight against climate change for poverty reduction, socioeconomic development, access to energy, action on desertification, deforestation and land degradation, and climate resilient agriculture. They recognize Africa’s renewable energy potential and support the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) Initiative. The Declaration also refers to France’s intent to support the acceleration of sustainable energy in Africa through a technical assistance facility.

Summit side events included a roundtable on ‘Combatting the trafficking and poaching of endangered species’ and the ‘Africa Forum: 100 innovations for sustainable development,’ which highlighted innovative solutions from the agriculture, education, energy, environment, health and technology fields. During an economic forum on a new partnership model between France and Africa, Donald Kaberuka, AfDB President, called for solid infrastructure, regional integration and strong institutions to achieve transformative economic and social progress, as well as sustainable, inclusive growth. [Elysée Summit Website] [Declaration] [AfDB Website on Elysée Summit] [AfDB Press Release] [AfDB Press Release on Infrastructure]