19 October 2009: The Second Technical Meeting of the African high-level expert panel and negotiators on climate change has opened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with a view to updating the African common negotiating position for Copenhagen. The meeting is organized by the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) and the African Union, in collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Participants will discuss their expectations for an inclusive, fair and effective outcome that prioritizes both adaptation and mitigation, and recognizes Africa’s urgent need for support for adaptation in the context of Africa’s need for development. The outcomes of the meeting will be presented at the second extraordinary meeting of AMCEN on climate change, scheduled for the eve of the high-level segment of the Copenhagen conference. [ECA press release]