4. Addressing Environmental/Climate Change issues

Progress Status Index

Annual Progress Report (PDF)

Actions to be taken in the next 5 years under the TICAD Process（Yokohama Action Plan）

Principal measures taken under the TICAD process up to February 2009

Mitigation

The inclusion of ten African countries into the “Forest Carbon Partnership Facility” was supported, while the financial assistance of US$ 2.24 million was provided for the implementation of ITTO projects in the field of sustainable forest management in Africa.

Adaptation

Twenty-six African countries are now partners in the Government of Japan’s “Cool Earth Partnership”. Based on this “Cool Earth Partnership”, an integrated and comprehensive adaptation-support program in Africa was drawn up under the “Japan-UNDP Joint Framework”. Under this framework, funding to seventeen African countries was decided, whilst the consultative process in respect of possible support for additional four countries is still ongoing.

Water and Sanitation

Out of the total target amount of grant aid and technical assistance (JPY 30 billion) over five years in the field of water and sanitation, at least JPY 4.06 billion of grant aid (13.54 %) has been committed (E/N base): fourteen grant aid projects, and four technical assistance projects were approved. To promote stable access to safe drinking water, the Government of Japan’s Water Security Action Team was dispatched to four African countries.

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)

Out of the total target amount (at least JPY 12 million) from the Japan Fund for Global Environment, the sum of JPY 12.8 million was allocated to support environmental conservation grass roots activities in African countries.

Future challenges

▪ In order to realize a “global sustainable society”, it is necessary for all countries, including those in Africa, to collaborate and develop an effective framework on climate change beyond 2012, and to take actions toward the goal of reducing global greenhouse gas emissions.

▪ Africa is vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. Participants will strengthen assistance to African countries which make an effort to promote effective adaptation policies and which strive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve economic growth in a compatible manner.

▪ It is important to assist the promotion of good water cycle management in Africa so that scarce water resources could be effectively recycled and/or re-used.