21st  session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) and eleventh session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the  United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 21 / CMP 11) - Paris, 30 November to 11 December 2014

 

High Level Side Event

EU Pavilion

Congo Basin Event at EU Pavillon

December 8^th, 2015  (5:00pm-6:15pm)

 

High Level Session: “Strengths and challenges of Central African forests in the fight against climate change”

 

Organizers: COMIFAC, CBFP Facilitation (European Commission and USA)

 

Chair of side event: Current COMIFAC Chairman and Incoming CBFP Facilitator

 

Description:

This high level side event will bring together the ministers of COMIFAC member countries and other countries parties, CBFP member countries and representatives of international organizations. It aims to showcase the countries' efforts in the field of conservation, sustainable management and their contribution to the fight against climate change.

 

The side event will unfold in three parts: an Introduction, a Technical Segment and a High Level Panel.

 

Moderator: H.E. José Manuel Briosa e Gala – Special Advisor of H.E. Neven Mimica, European Commissioner in charge of International cooperation and Development, incoming CBFP Facilitator

 

Welcome and Introductory presentations – 15 min

 

This part will include the following welcome addresses and opening statements:

 

• Remarks by His Excellency Mr Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President of the European Commission, in charge of Energy Union (5mn).
• Remarks by - H.E. Emmanuel Niyonkuru, Minister of Water, the Environment, Spatial Planning and Urban Planning of Burundi, and Acting President of COMIFAC (5mn)
• Remarks by - H.E.  Ahmad Allam-Mi, ECCAS Secretary-General (5mn)

 

Technical Segment – 20 min

 

• The issue of Sustainable Management of Congo Basin Forests and  the fight against Climate Change -  Dr Eba’Atyi Richard, CIFOR  Regional Coordinator (10mn)
• Official Launch of special report :  Forests and Climate Change in Central by H.E. Raymond MBITIKON (COMIFAC Executive Secretary) & M. Carlos de Wasseige (OFAC expert) (10mn)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High Level Panel – 35 min

 

Dialogue between ministers and partners on climate finance in the Congo basin: Strengthening financial assistance to address mitigation and adaptation challenges

 

This second part will be marked by a high-level panel comprising the ministers of forests and/or the Environment of the COMIFAC-ECCAS countries, representatives of the European Union Commission, the Green Climate Fund, the World Bank and ADB.

 

Moderator: H.E. José Manuel Briosa e Gala – Special Advisor of H.E. Neven Mimica, European Commissioner in charge of International cooperation and Development, incoming CBFP Facilitator

 

Scene-setting Presentations (5mn):

 

• Hela Cheikhrouhou (tbc), Executive Director, Green Climate Fund
• Naoko Ishii (tbc), CEO and Chairperson, Global Environment Facility
• Mr. Per Fredrik Ilsaas Pharo (tbc), Director of the Kingdom of Norway's International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI), Norway
• Fernando Frutusoso de Melo , Director General of International Cooperation and Development of the European Commission (DG DEVCO)

The presentations will be followed by discussions between panel members and ministers. The following ministers will be called upon to make statements (5mn):

 

• H.E. Henri Djombo, Minister of Forestry Economics and Sustainable Development  - Congo
• H.E. Robert Bopolo Bogeza, Minister of Environment, Nature Conservation and Sustainable Development - DRC
• H.E. Mrs. Flore Mistoul, Minister of Protection of the Environment and Natural Resources, forests and the sea - Gabon

The following questions may serve to steer the discussions:

• The current level of funding generated by Congo Basin financing mechanisms: (1) UNFCCC Financial Mechanism:  Private sector: JI and CDM – Non market based: GCF, Adaptation Fund, GEF/LDCF, SCCF – (2) Non UNFCCC Financial Mechanism: FCPF, CIFs: CTF, SCF (FIP, SREP, PPCR), Carbon Fund (PMR, Biocarbon Fund), ACCF, CBFF, GEEREF, UNREDD…
• Financing needs of Central African countries in the area of climate change adaptation and mitigation
• Prospects for increasing the current share of funding for the benefit of Congo Basin countries

Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations of the side event – By H.E. José Manuel Briosa e Gala, incoming CBFP Facilitator (5min)

 

 

NB: The "forests and climate change" special report will be broadcast during the session

 

Central African Forest Commission - http://www.comifac.org/

 

It is the guidance and technical body responsible for coordination, harmonization and decision-making with respect to conservation and sustainable management of forest and savannah ecosystems in Central Africa. It follows up the Yaounde Declaration and implements international agreements and forest development initiatives in Central Africa. The legal framework for COMIFAC is the February 2005 Treaty entitled “Treaty on conservation and sustainable management of Central African Forest Ecosystems, instituting the Central African Forest Commission”. The COMIFAC Convergence Plan defines the joint intervention strategies of Central African States and their development partners in the area of conservation and sustainable management of forest and savannah ecosystems.

 

Congo Basin Forest Partnership -CBFP : http://pfbc-cbfp.org/accueil.html

The Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP) is not a technical and financial partner. It is an informal body bringing together close to sixty partners: COMIFAC countries, governmental, non-governmental, international and private sector organizations which have agreed to harmonize their assistance to ensure effective implementation of the COMIFAC Convergence Plan. The partners aim to enhance technical and financial contributions for conservation, sustainable management of forest ecosystems and poverty alleviation in Central African Countries. The CBFP is often described as a platform, a network, a forum for dialogue. Launched during the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, the CBFP is a “type II” partnership in contrast to “type I” intergovernmental partnerships such as COMIFAC. “Type II” partnerships were developed to help provide effective support to intergovernmental organizations.

 

The European Union will take over from the United States as CBFP facilitator with effect from January 2016.

 

 

INFORMATION DESK:

 

The COMIFAC Delegation will be present with brochures, leaflets or banners showcasing the Congo Basin Region. Two scientific reports on the theme will be distributed: (i) the State of the Congo Basin forests report 2015 (climate and forests) and (ii) using the modeling approach to estimate the baseline for REDD+.

 

Please download the Agenda here below in PDF: