COP27 (Conference of the Parties) representing the member countries of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) opens today in the seaside resort of Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, in the presence of many heads of State of countries having ratified this charter which aims to mitigate the effects of climate change on the planet.
Algeria, a signatory of the Paris Agreement on the climate, alongside 195 other countries, will be represented at this new edition on the climate scheduled for Egyptian soil from November 6 to 18 by the President of the Republic Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune. On the eve of COP27, Arab leaders gathered in the framework of the 31st Ordinary Summit of the League of Arab States in Algiers on 1 and 2 November and expressed their support for Egypt for the holding of the United Nations International Summit on Climate Change, hosted by the country of the Pharaohs. And it is in line with this important global event, the challenge of which is to save the planet from the excesses of man, the race for profit, and unbridled economic growth, that the Arab Summit of Algiers has placed on the agenda of its work issues related to the objectives of COP27 which arise with great acuity in the Arab world, due to the austerity of its geography and its climate.
It is about double security: food and water, two files that were the subject of broad and rich debates leading to decisions and recommendations adopted within the framework of the Declaration of Algiers. On this capital issue which mobilizes the planet, Algeria has not failed to invest in the forums and organizational frameworks at the regional, continental and international levels to bring its concerns and those of the geographical groups to which it belongs.
Within the framework of the inter-African consultation, the contribution of Algeria to defend the position of Africa at the level of the UN authorities, before the General Assembly of the United Nations or during the Conferences of the Parties (the various COPs) on the climate is particularly noticed and appreciated.
The losses and damages of developing countries
During the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad, Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, pleaded for the adoption of common action by Africa during COP27. Speaking on behalf of President Tebbounne during the work of the Summit of the Committee of Heads of State and Government of the African Union on Climate Change (CAOSCC) preparatory to COP27 organized on the sidelines of the 77th session of the General Assembly of United Nations, Mr. Lamamra urged Africa to “speak with one voice” emphasizing the principle of “common but differentiated responsibility” in the approach to addressing climate change.
In other words, the debate on the “polluter pays” principle, which had constituted the basic doctrine of the fight against climate change, is outdated in the understanding of developing countries, which are demanding that industrialized countries, be responsible for the pollution of the planet, reparations up to the losses and damages suffered, following disasters linked to climate change: floods, forest fires, drought, the fragility of the soil… According to the International Energy Agency (IAEA), Africa is only responsible for 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions; Algeria emits only 0.39%.
As a semi-arid country, our country is heavily impacted by the climatic phenomenon resulting in the occurrence of climatic hazards that have become endemic for several years now, as can be seen with the vagaries of rainfall. To deal with this, an ambitious plan has been put in place spanning the ten-year period 2020-2030 and covering a total of 155 projects falling within the framework of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to the consequences of climate change, all backed by thoughtful climate governance.
The commitments of the national plan for adaptation to climate change are as follows: reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 7%, with the prospect of increasing this rate to 22%, by 2030, and aid funds international are released. Mega-projects are programmed in this context, such as the revival of the green dam, and the extension of solar energy, in particular for the benefit of the populations of the South and the Hauts Plateaux, for the development of the agricultural sector and the satisfaction of domestic needs for clean electricity and drinking water, the encouragement of investment in the activity of collection, sorting and recycling of waste, through the creation of start-ups, the production of green hydrogen.…
These are some of the actions that Algeria has undertaken to contribute its contribution to the “Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) required of signatory countries of the Paris Agreement to reduce global warming of 1.5°C. An objective that is far from being achieved, according to the forecasts of UN experts who are counting on warming oscillating between 2.6°C and 2.8°C. In question, the procrastination of industrialized countries which are reluctant to untie their purses to compensate the countries most exposed to the risk of climate change, and to honor their commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, through the implementation of a policy of development of renewable energies.
The objective is to succeed, in the long term, in setting up a new economic model, capable of reconciling the requirements of development and growth with safeguarding the planet.
