26 August 2010: A Communication Strategy on Climate Change and Comprehensive Framework of African Climate Change Programmes has been finalized and validated by the consultative meeting on climate change work of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), which was held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 23-26 August 2010.

The Communication Strategy is meant to equip African Environment Ministers and other African climate change actors and decision makers with timely and relevant information on climate change, and to promote effective communication and outreach on the implementation of the comprehensive framework for climate change programmes at national and sub-regional levels. The Strategy aims to facilitate communication of: the existence of increasing climate change and variability, current climate events and possible future ramifications; the need to take action as proactively as possible and reactively as relevant, to address the negative impacts of climate change; the need for a fair, effective and science-based response to climate change by all countries; and the need for effective outreach to promote a global response that is sufficient to keep Africa safe. The Communication Strategy aims to create the conditions for discussing both adaptation and mitigation strategies while sharing knowledge, experiences and lessons within the region, between the sub-regions and with the rest of the world.

The consultative meeting also reviewed the key elements of the African common negotiating position for the 16th session of the Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC (COP 16), which will be held at the end of 2010, in Cancun, Mexico. [UNEP Press Release]