- The PS said climate change response both in terms of adaptation and mitigation is not gender neutral.
- He said for effective climate action, we need to enhance climate empowerment and education to empower populations across Africa.
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Impacts of climate change on health, and access to water for domestic, agricultural and industrial use is one area of growing concern, Environment, Climate Change and Forestry PS Festus Ng'eno said.
Through his representative on Wednesday during the African Group of Negotiators Experts Support (AGNES) meeting, Ng'eno said he hopes the African negotiators will be aligned for the best possible outcomes of COP28.
"It is my hope that these great minds will deliberate on how to handle climate-related health issues, including malnutrition, hunger, and water access issues that are a growing concern across the continent," he said.
The PS said climate change response both in terms of adaptation and mitigation is not gender neutral.
He said depending on the circumstances in Africa, women, men and children are affected differently by different climate change shocks.
They also contribute differently to the resilience of African communities.
"It is my hope that this strategy meeting will enable experts to bring out these gender dimensions of climate change in our African context and link it with the progress in addressing it through the Lima Work Programme under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)," Ng'eno said.
Ng'eno further said international cooperation and climate education is a key pillars to building the capacity of Africa’s population towards achieving climate goals.
He said for effective climate action, we need to enhance climate empowerment and education to empower populations across Africa.
The PS urged the experts to put their minds ensuring that Africa gets the best deals from the UNFCCC processes.
"A recent study indicates that Africa loses 10 to 12 per cent of the GDP to climate change and its impacts. This greatly devastates many lives and livelihoods across Africa that depends on climate-sensitive sectors," he said.
Ng'eno also said Africa is endowed with ocean resources which in turn diversely influences continental climate.
He said experts need to therefore adequately engage in the Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue.
The PS said they should also engage the Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan to infuse the African voice and get the very best out of it.
The Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan emphasizes the urgent need for global greenhouse gas emission reductions across the energy sector and recognises the need for energy systems to be secure, reliable and resilient
"It is important that, despite our diversities in the continent, we brainstorm and reach agreements for our common good as we consolidate common African positions, and deepen understanding of emerging areas," he said.