TOWARDS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PARIS AGREEMENT: INDEPENDENT GLOBAL STOCKTAKE HUB PROJECT LAUNCHED

©Igor Bado

The WASCAL Competence Centre, Ouagadougou, has hosted the official inception workshop of the Independent Global Stocktake (iGST) West Africa Regional Hub Project. The objective of the workshop was to officially launch the project and provide foundational information about the ongoing engagements of the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the formal GST process through the iGST workstreams.

In his address at the opening ceremony, Dr. Moumini Savadogo, the executive director of WASCAL, highlighted the scope and importance of the project in the fight against climate change. To this end, he indicated that

”The iGST initiative is an avenue given to all organizations, scientist, civil society, farmers, and farmers organizations to join efforts to contribute effectively to global climate change actions progress and support the countries to make increasingly stronger commitments’’.

Dr. Brian Mantlana from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR, South Africa), in his opening remark, pointed out the importance of his institution’s partnership with WASCAL and the involvement of stakeholders for ensuring a robust GST that empowers ECOWAS countries to take greater climate action for the benefit of the region.

”’We know the significance of the global stock taking process in the context of climate change. We want to ensure that we support and work with WASCAL and ensure that there is broad participation by various stakeholders in West Africa contributing to the global stocktaking’’, he said. 

On her part, Mrs Segda Zenabou, the President of Women Environmental Program of Burkina Faso welcomed the initiative and the opportunity provided by the iGST and indicated the need for the hub to be structured in a way that would ensure a strong synergy between actors at national and international levels to better address climate change issues. In line with this, she said,

”I appeal to actors for more organization and harmonization actions in order to be stronger and fulfill effectively their role.’’

The workshop was attended by participants from civil society climate organizations in West Africa including environmental NGOs, business and industry NGOs, farmers’ and agricultural NGOs, indigenous people’s organizations, local governments and municipal authorities, universities and research centers, trade union NGOs, women, gender, and youth NGOs, regional climate institutions, and UNFCCC national focal points.

Presentations and discussions focused on the Paris Agreement, the Independent Global Stock, the West Africa Regional Hub of iGST and the opportunities it offers to the members, as well as the upcoming activities of the Hub.

The iGST West Africa Regional Hub is funded by ClimateWorks Foundation and led by WASCAL in collaboration with CSIR (South Africa).