Rwanda Climate Change and Development Network hosted PACJA and other CSOs in a 2 days workshop in Kigali, Rwanda on the 15th and 16th of December 2022. The workshop aims to unpack the outcomes of COP27 in light of African needs and expectations and develop strategies to enhance the success of African positions for the future.
Faustin Vuningoma, the RCCDN Coordinator in his opening remarks welcomed delegates from different Civil Society Organizations in Kigali for the two days workshop organized by Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA).
Charles Mwangi, the Head of Programs and Research at PACJA said how conferences of Parties (COP) happen every year and every COP is critical to progress. “This key objective, without it the world will not limit the global temperature rise to below 1.5-celsius degrees. By this measure, this year’s COP was a missed opportunity and potentially a step back. COP27 did not progress commitments or show evidence of significant action by countries to further draw down global emissions,” he said.
As the workshop was ongoing in his presentation professor, Seth Osafo said that climate impacts are real and our urgency as people to deal with this crisis must supersede the quest for finances that rightfully comes with it. They could then demand climate finance, rather than beg for it.
Herman Hakizimana, the Climate Change Program Manager at REMA expressed warm gratitude to the revealers for choosing to have this meeting in Rwanda. He also urged all activists and environmentalists to always be prepared ahead of COP, and called for further collaboration to ensure climate justice.
He added, “The establishment of the Loss and Damage fund was one of the decisions that were made at COP27 to support developing countries, especially in Africa as a continent of special needs and circumstances from where Rwanda as a country will also benefit.”
The delegate from Rwanda at COP27 met different partners that will work on projects of investment to adapt and mitigate the impacts of climate change and one of the many projects is “ IREME INVESTMENT” with more than $104 M fund.
The more time it took to establish a climate finance fund, the more it affected women and called for violence against them as De Melanie Ekiponda said. “The work that women do is important and when we talk about climate justice we mean women’s rights. During droughts or flood situations, women are most affected since they care for the households. If this loss and damage fund is a debt to be paid, that would be a difficult problem for Africans, especially women,” she added.
With the help of: Djenny Mwizerwa
