17 November 2009: The Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (Committee of Ten), mandated by the African Union (AU) to speak on behalf of Africa during the 15th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP-15) to the UNFCCC, met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 17 November 2009.
AU Commission Chairperson Jean Ping stressed that Africa expects “not only a mere declaration” from Copenhagen, but rather an all-inclusive agreement to provide Africa technology and capacity-building support to overcome the threat of global warming. He called for concrete measures to “resolve the present climatic crises and spare the continent from catastrophes.”
The Committee of Ten then consulted “in camera” on strategies and institutional mechanisms to promote the African common position on climate change in Copenhagen. The Committee includes: Algeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, South Africa and Uganda. [AU Press Release] [AU Commission Chairperson Ping’s Speech]