The United States and the African Union Commission are launching a new partnership to reach Paris agreement goals in reducing carbon emissions and building long-term adaptation plans in Africa, the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development Samantha Power announced on Monday.
Speaking at the United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Scotland, Power announced the launch of the Comprehensive Africa Climate Change Initiative (CACCI) alongside Josefa Sacko, African Union Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, and other African Union Member States representatives.
As many African countries disproportionately bear the brunt of climate change, Power asserted that adapting and strengthening resilience to climate change is critical.
CACCI is expected to advance USAID’s climate priorities and its commitment to working with countries to address the effects of climate change.
“Fifty-four countries in Africa have ratified the Paris Agreement, and as next steps will implement the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) that they submitted as part of their commitments to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change,” USAID said in a statement.
It asserted that the new partnership with the AUC “exemplifies USAID’s commitment to strengthening country-level implementation of NDCs and NAPs led by African leaders and institutions.”
“It will build local and regional capacity and institutional infrastructure and develop an Africa-wide accountability platform that not only informs debate at the continental level but also informs global discussion on climate change mitigation and adaptation. This partnership advances the Global Climate Ambition Initiative, announced by the White House at the U.S.-hosted Leaders’ Climate Summit, to support partner countries in establishing net-zero strategies and strengthening resilience to climate change,” added the agency.
Simon Ateba is Chief White House Correspondent for Today News Africa. Simon covers President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, the U.S. government, the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other financial and international institutions in Washington D.C. and New York City.