International and cascading climate risk: Implications for adaptation in Africa and the Global Goal on Adaptation

Summary

Adaptation plans the world over are built on national vulnerability and risk assessments and are defined and developed in relative isolation from one another. Very few address the transboundary and cascading nature of climate risk.

In recognising transboundary climate risks and need for enhanced climate cooperation, Africa’s Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan(2022-2032) represents a step-change in our thinking about adaptation.

How do international and cascading climate risks impact Africa?

How can governments build resilience to them, and what role can the regional economic communities play in addressing and managing international and cascading climate risks?

What opportunities exist – including COP27 – that can and must be harnessed to strengthen regional and global cooperation on adaptation to manage such risks?

These are the critical questions that now need answering and which will form the basis of a highly engaging event on Tuesday, 13 September, at the African Ministerial Conference for the Environment, AMCEN 2022. The event will form a key milestone in a longer-term strategy to strengthen Africa’s resilience to cascading and transboundary climate risk.

Speakers

Madeleine Diouf Sarr, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MEDD), Senegal, and Chair of the LDC Group – tbc

Harsen Nyambe, African Union Commission (AUC) – tbc

Katy Harris, Adaptation Without Borders

Hanne Knaepen, European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM)

Richard Munang, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Africa Office

Emmanuel Seck, Enda Energie

Kwame Ababio, African Union Development Agency

Closing remarks by Ayman Cherkaoui, Ambassador of Adaptation Without Borders

Facilitation by Philip Osano, SEI Africa