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Published May 20, 2022 / Environment

The Congo Basin Climate Commission adopts its statutes

20220519-Reunion-CBCC-Status

May 20, in Brazzaville (Republic of Congo) - Constituting the last stage of operationalisation of the Congo Basin Climate Commission (CBCC), the ministers of its member countries met on May 19, in hybrid format, to adopt the statutes previously elaborated during the experts' session on May 17 and 18. The Brazzaville Foundation was an observer in its capacity as a technical partner.

Caption: Family photo taken during the ministers' meeting, © CBCC.

The meeting was officially opened by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Congo, Mr. Anatole Collinet Makosso, taking stock of "the undeniable progress made in the implementation of CBCC activities, thanks to the unconditional support of its member countries and the backing of its financial and technical partners".

Caption: Opening speech by Mr. Anatole Collinet Makosso, Prime Minister of the Republic of Congo, © CBCC.

With a view to COP 27, to be held in Egypt in November, the two main objectives of this meeting were (1) to review and adopt the draft statutes of CBCC and (2) to present progress in the implementation of its activities, notably on the issue of the 1.5 billion dollars in funding announced at COP 26 in Glasgow last November.

 

Initially, the draft statutes were developed during the experts' session held on 17 and 18 May by the focal points of the member countries of CBCC and of the regional and sub-regional organisations (ECCAS, CCRS); representatives of international and regional organisations , as well as public institutions (EU, AU, FAO, COMIFAC, WFP, BDEAC, RECERIAC, Banque Postale du Congo, OIF, World Bank, Climate Commission of the Sahel Region, ECA, ICO, ROSCEVAC); and representatives of technical and financial partners (4C Morocco, UNDP, UNESCO, Brazzaville Foundation). These statutes aim to define not only the commission's responsibilities but also its organisation and its mode of operation.

Caption: Family photo taken during the Experts Session, © CBCC.

This new milestone is necessary for the proper functioning of the African Union body to carry out its mission: to preserve the second lung of the planet. The UNDP Resident Representative in the Republic of Congo Mr. Maleye Diop, emphasised the essential nature of the partnership with the UN bodies and called on stakeholders to develop their efforts to fight climate change: "I am pleased with our partnership to support the efforts already undertaken at the country level on climate preservation in a coordinated and concerted manner, transcending borders, and help the member countries of the Congo Basin Climate Commission to implement the Paris agreements."

Caption: Mr. Maleye Diop, UNDP Resident Representative in the Republic of Congo, at the Experts' Session, © CBCC.

After welcoming the last stage of operationalisation of the CBCC, the General Manager of 4C Morocco, Ms. Rajae Chafil, announced the upcoming launch of a study of potential funding for projects referenced in the Congo Basin Blue Fund, in cooperation with the technical coordination of the CBCC.

Caption: Ms. Rajae Chafil, Director General of 4C Morocco, at the Expert Session, © CBCC.

The experts also discussed the progress of CBCC activities, including the funding announced at COP 26 in Scotland*. The Executive Secretary of COMIFAC, Mr. Chouaibou Nchoutpouen, announced the setting up of a working group for mobilisation these funds. Terms of reference have already been drawn up, and correspondence has been sent to countries to designate their representatives to the group.

 

Placed under the high patronage of the President of the Republic of Congo and the President of CBCC, Mr. Denis Sassou N'Guesso, the meeting closed with a speech by the Republic of Congo's Minister for the Environment, Sustainable Development and the Congo Basin, Arlette Soudan-Nonault, who is also Technical Coordinator for CBCC : "The Congo Basin now has a tool for financial and technical cooperation: a decisive step forward in the construction of climate finance in Africa to reconcile the fight against climate change and economic development," she declared.

 

The Brazzaville Foundation and its Founding Chairman, Mr. Jean-Yves Ollivier, also Goodwill Ambassador of the CBCC and the Congo Basin Blue Fund, congratulates all stakeholders for this new step and reiterates its support within the framework of its technical partnership.

Caption: Opening of the ministers' meeting, in the presence of Richard Amalvy, Chief Executive of Brazzaville Foundation, © CBCC.

* Several funding announcements were made at COP 26 in Glasgow in November 2021, including: the declaration of 141 leaders on forests and land use, on November 2, 2021, to work collectively to halt and reverse the loss of forest area and land degradation by 2030 while ensuring sustainable development and promoting inclusive rural transformation; the joint declaration to support the protection and sustainable management of the Congo Basin forests, on Tuesday, November 2, 2021, by ten donor countries and two organisations (the European Union and the Bezos Earth Fund) which constitutes a collective contribution of at least 1.5 billion dollars between 2021 and 2025.