AMCEN spotlights environmental actions for job creation, livelihoods improvement

Issues of job creation and improved livelihoods of the people are topical at the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) in Dakar, Senegal where the Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry, Hon Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndhlovu is leading Zimbabwe’s delegation.

The Ministerial segment is being held from 15 to 16 September 2022.

The session is being held under the theme, “Securing people’s well-being and ensuring environmental sustainability in Africa”.

The Session considers environmental challenges and opportunities in Africa in the post-Covid 19 era. Central to this theme is the need for a people centred recovery that focuses on people’s well-being through environmental actions that create jobs and improve livelihoods.

Objectives and overview of the ninth special session

The main objective of the 18^th session of AMCEN is to provide Ministers with an opportunity to provide policy guidance for the effective participation of African countries in the upcoming key global environmental events. These events include the following;

1. The 27^th Session of the Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 27) scheduled to take place from 6^th to 18^th November 2022 in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt.
2. The 15^th Session of the Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD COP15) scheduled to take place in Montreal, Canada from 7^th to 19^th December 2022.

Other key issues to be addressed at the session include;

1. Africa’s participation in the development of an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.
2. Ministerial policy dialogues on:
   1. Open waste burning and waste management in Africa: From commitment to action
   2. Antimicrobial Resistance
   3. Platform for implementation of the decisions of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment.

• Trust Fund of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment.

1. Review of the implementation of decisions adopted at previous session of AMCEN.

The expert segment will bring to the attention of ministers a number of matters for their consideration. Ministers will be invited to exchange views on those matters in order to reach consensus or agreement thereon.

Among other key issues to be discussed are:

1. Enhancing implementation of the decisions of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment, including the Africa Green Stimulus Programme [ALL]
2. Enhancing the role of the Environment Protection Agencies in Africa [EMA, PWMA, FC]
3. Collaboration between the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment and African Ministers of Finance and Economic Planning [PS]
4. Phasing out of open burning of waste in Africa [EMA]
5. Fostering sustainable soil governance in Africa [EMA]
6. Progress on the development of an African Oceans Governance Strategy [ENRD]
7. Antimicrobial Resistance. [EMA]
8. Outcomes of the twenty-sixth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on climate change and preparations for the twenty-seventh Conference of the Parties as well as;[CCMD, ALL]
   1. Integrated Assessment of Air Pollution and Climate Change for Sustainable Development in Africa
   2. Africa Adaptation Initiative

• Climate Altering Technologies and Measures

1. African Union Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan

1. Outcomes of the resumed fifth United Nations Environment Assembly and preparation for the sixth session of the Environment Assembly. [ENRD, ALL]
2. Africa’s participation in the development of an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment [ENRD, EMA].
3. Preparations for the resumed fifteenth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity and the post-2020 global biodiversity framework [ENRD, ALL].
4. Outcomes of the fifteenth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification [ENRD, EMA].
5. Matters related to the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment:
   1. Status of the General Trust Fund of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment; [PS, ENRD]
   2. Review of the Rules of Procedure of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment. [PS, ENRD]

Finally, ministers are expected to consider a draft declaration, decisions and key messages and agree on the venue and date of the nineteenth session.