African Climate Solution

A coalition of 26 African countries is calling for the inclusion of carbon credits generated through afforestation, reforestation, agroforestry, reduced soil tillage, and sustainable agricultural practices in future climate agreements. The African Climate Solution — a partnership launched at the current climate talks in Poznan, Poland — seeks payments from industrialized nations for efforts by developing countries to sequester carbon through land use practices. The initiative goes beyond the proposed reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) mechanism that is currently under debate at the Poznan conference. Land use — including deforestation, habitat degradation, and agriculture — accounts for roughly thirty percent of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions in some years, an amount exceeding that from the global transportation sector.

While Africa is the smallest emitter of greenhouse gases outside of Antarctica — yet stands to bear the brunt of climate change — the coalition is hoping to capitalize on the capacity of the continent’s ecosystems to store massive amounts of carbon through reduced deforestation, reforestation, low-impact farming methods and restoration of soil carbon through processes like biochar. But the coalition is not limiting participation to African nations — it seeks to include other developing countries. “This initiative is African in origin but is intended to include all developing nations,” said Mr. Sindiso Ngwenya, Secretary General of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) who gave a key note presentation at the launch of the Africa Climate Solution. “We all face the same problem of dealing with climate change and sustainable development. We are seeking the support of countries in Asia, Latin America and Small Island States to ensure that not only Africa’s voice but that of the world’s poor and excluded will be heard loud and clear in articulating solutions for mitigation and adaptation measures on climate change.” http://news.mongabay.com/2008/1210-africa.html

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