5 December 2014: In a press conference held on the sidelines of the Lima Climate Change Conference, the Africa Group of Negotiators highlighted their priorities for international climate change negotiations. African delegates stressed adaptation and political parity as a priority for Africa.

“We have a mandate from science, from our people, from the African continent and from the UN itself to strive for enhanced global climate activities to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and strengthen adaptation” declared the President of the African Group of Negotiators, Nagmeldin El Hassan. El Hassan said the group prioritizes both increasing climate action in the pre-2020 period and negotiating a post-2020 agreement.

The African Group of Negotiators also called for legal parity between adaptation and mitigation. The Group further called for addressing capacity-building, funding and technology as central to the agreement, in line with a statement made by the African Union Committee (AUC) of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC).

The African Group of Negotiators held their press conference on 2 December 2014. [UNECA Press Release] [AU Website] [IISD RS Coverage of Lima Climate Change Conference]