29 Nov 2018

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi leaves for Katowice, Poland tomorrow  to attend the 24th session of the conference of the parties (COP24) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

A press release from the Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation says the conference, scheduled for December 2-5, is meant to adopt the implementation guidelines for accelerating the achievement of the Paris Climate Change Agreement goals.

“To achieve this the conference will strive to agree on the ‘Paris Rule book’, which will demonstrate political will and commitment on the part of the parties, to embark on an effective work plan. This will engender a collective effort towards realising the ambitions of the UNFCCC beyond 2020,” says the release.

Alongside the COP24 meeting, the release says there will also be a high-level summit emanating from the Talanoa Dialogue during which heads of state and government are expected to sign the declaration recognising the need for a low carbon economy, as enshrined in the Paris Agreement.
 

“Like many other nations, Botswana is already feeling the adverse impact of climate change across various sectors of the economy.

This is being felt through among others: extreme weather events; substantial reductions in surface water resources; accelerated desertification in sensitive arid zones; and greater threats to health, biodiversity and agricultural production,” the release says.

According to the release, the special report on 1.5°C of global warming clearly provides evidence that the threat posed by climate change cannot be underestimated.

“It further cements the need for countries to maintain the strongest commitment to the Paris Agreement’s aims of limiting global warming to well below 2ºC and pursuing efforts towards 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels,” says the release.

The president will be accompanied by International Affairs and Cooperation minister Dr Unity Dow, Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism minister Mr Tshekedi Khama, Lerala-Maunatlala MP Prince Maele, Boteti East MP Sethomo Lelatisitswe and some senior government officials.

President Masisi and his entourage are expected to return home on December 6. Ends