Accra: The African Union Commission (AUC) has embarked on a comprehensive review of its climate change interventions, aiming to evaluate the achievements of 2025, pinpoint obstacles, and develop a coordinated work plan for 2026 and the future.
According to Ghana News Agency, during the opening of a multi-stakeholder meeting in Accra over the weekend, Dr. Samuel Ogallah, the Climate Change Coordinator at the AUC, emphasized the importance of coordinated action across various sectors to address climate change, considering it a cross-cutting issue. This initiative is part of a post-mortem analysis of the Commission's climate actions facilitated through its Climate Change Unit under the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment.
Dr. Ogallah explained that the meeting's purpose was to evaluate successful and unsuccessful strategies, understand the reasons behind these outcomes, and integrate the lessons learned into the 2026 planning process. He highlighted that this review process is based on joint planning and co-creation. The meeting included representatives from Regional Economic Communities, Africa's three Climate Commissions, AU departments, civil society organizations, academia, and international partners like Africa CDC, the African Development Bank, UNDP, UNEP, and other development agencies. The agenda included preparing Africa's roadmap towards the 32nd Conference of Parties (COP32).
The African Group of Negotiators (AGN) on climate change, chaired by Ghana, took part in these discussions to ensure alignment between technical planning and Africa's global climate negotiations. Dr. Ogallah noted that Ethiopia would host the 32nd Conference of Parties (COP32) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) this year. With COP32 being held in Africa, it is considered an African COP, and efforts are underway to support the Ethiopian Government in ensuring that COP32 addresses Africa's realities and priorities.
Dr. Ogallah also mentioned the Commission's review of the outcomes from the Africa Climate Summit held in Addis Ababa in September 2024, focusing on implementing the Africa Leaders' Declaration on Climate Change and Call to Action. All AUC climate-related activities are guided by the African Union Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan (2022-2032), which aligns with Agenda 2063, 'The Africa We Want'. Highlighting key priorities for 2025, Dr. Ogallah stressed the importance of Africa speaking with one voice at COP31, scheduled later this year and co-hosted by Trkiye and Australia.
Nana Dr. Antwi-Boasiako Amoah, the new Chair of AGN, in his inaugural public speech, outlined his vision for the upcoming biennium, focusing on inclusivity, transparency, collaboration, and youth engagement. He emphasized the significance of inclusivity as a fundamental pillar, noting that the gathering offered a valuable platform for member states to contribute to shaping the group's strategic direction and align with the 2026 strategic plan. This approach extends beyond ensuring representation in AGN coordination processes, encompassing interaction with the broader African climate governance architecture and engagement with civil society, think tanks, and intergovernmental organizations.