Climate and Clean Air Coalition support emissions reduction meeting in Africa

The Climate and Clean Air Coalition, a partnership of governments, organisations, the private sector, the environmental community, and members of civil society have supported high-level meetings in Africa this week which have focused on reducing emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs).

SLCPs such as methane, black carbon and hydrofluorocarbons represent a clear and present danger to the atmosphere and implementing measures to substantially reduce them would have significant environmental benefits for Africa.

The meeting, hosted by the Environment Ministries of Ghana and Nigeria and supported by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), the African Climate Policy Centre (ACPC) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is a three-day event addressing the pressing need for mitigation and adaptation of the impacts of SLCPs. Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Ethiopia, Niger, Malawi, Senegal, Togo and Zimbabwe have also been represented at the meetings.

Under the chairmanship of Ms. Bahijjahtu Abubakar of Nigeria, attendees will explore methods of SLCP reduction for African nations such as promoting best practices and showcasing successful efforts for the reduction of black carbon from cookstoves, oil and gas flaring, and transport, and the reduction of methane emissions from fossil fuel production and from the agricultural and waste sectors. The meeting will also address raising awareness of the SLCP issue in Africa and improving scientific understanding of SLCP impacts and the socio-economic benefits of mitigation strategies, and enhancing and developing the capacity of policy makers to take effective action at both national and regional levels.

The Climate and Clean Air Initiative is voluntary and is supported by a small secretariat hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The coalition is government-led and serves as a forum for assessing the impact of GHG emissions and the suitability and influence of mitigation strategies being employed.