31 August 2016: An information session for African ambassadors based in Morocco convened in preparation for the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22) to the UNFCCC. The session sought to prepare African countries to participate in the COP, support efforts to coordinate participation among countries and discuss the stakes for Africa. The session was organized by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in partnership with the COP 22 Steering Committee.

During the meeting, which took place on 31 August 2016, in Rabat, Morocco, Omar Abdourahman, ECA, underlined that according to ECA research, a global temperature increase of 2°C above pre-industrial levels by 2050 could cause Africa's GDP to decline by 4.7%. However, he added that “Africa can still turn the tide in its favor” by exploiting its more recent industrial development to “leapfrog” towards green industrialization. Yacine Fal, AfDB, highlighted adaptation, mitigation, financing and strengthening the negotiation process as priorities for Africa.

Participants discussed: the civil society space in at COP 22 in Marrakesh; the importance of private sector participation in Marrakesh; the innovation space, which will include Hub Africa and opportunities for companies to share low-carbon initiatives; and the importance of access to finance for Africa. Participants also discussed organization of the Africa Pavilion, which will provide the space for debates on issues facing the continent, and include a high-level event on 'implementing nationally determined

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