Nigeria, 47 African Nations reaffirm commitment to tackle Climate Change

Delegates from forty-eight African countries have renewed their dedication to tackling climate change and human mobility challenges on the continent while capitalizing on sustainable development opportunities.

This commitment was solidified through the Kampala Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment, and Climate Change (KDMECC).

The decision came during the Conference of States, which focused on expanding the KDMECC’s continental reach and was recently held in Nairobi, Kenya.

Mohammed Abdiker, the IOM Regional Director for the East and Horn of Africa, emphasized Africa’s vulnerability to climate change’s impacts.

The region frequently experiences extreme weather events due to climate change, which directly influence migration patterns.

In the past year alone, over 7.5 million new internal disaster displacements were recorded on the continent (IDMC, Global Report on Internal Displacement 2023). Without action, the World Bank predicts that up to 105 million people could become internal migrants within Africa.

Addressing human mobility within the context of climate and environmental change has gained global importance and urgency.

The KDMECC provides an unprecedented opportunity to assist member states in addressing these challenges while harnessing migration for sustainable development.

Originally signed by 15 African states in Kampala, Uganda, in July 2022, the KDMECC addresses the intersection of human mobility and climate change throughout Africa.

It stands as the first comprehensive and action-oriented framework, driven by member states, to tackle climate-induced mobility effectively.
Cooperation is at the core of the Kampala Declaration.

By enhancing regional and continental cooperation, states can provide practical solutions for individuals affected by the climate crisis.

The conference also ensured that the voices of African youth were heard, with the ‘Continental Youth Statement’ from the Youth Engagement Forum in Nairobi playing a key role.

H.E Ms. Rebecca Amuge Otengo, Ambassador of Uganda to Ethiopia, emphasized that the expanded KDMECC-AFRICA prioritizes all voices, including those of youth, women, and vulnerable individuals.

Co-hosted by the Governments of Kenya and Uganda, with support from the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the conference allowed African states to forge a common position ahead of the Africa Climate Summit and the Conference of Parties, COP 28.

The KDMECC-AFRICA is set to be signed by member states during the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi on September 4, 2023.

This reaffirms Africa’s commitment to addressing climate-induced human mobility and climate change challenges on the continent.