Africa seeks to adapt its agriculture to climate change ahead of COP22

An article, published in Moroccan World News on 2 October 2016, reports that 20 African ministers, together with representatives from international institutions, scientists and experts, gathered in Marrakech, Morocco, on 29-30 September 2016 for a high-level meeting ahead of the upcoming COP22 negotiations. Nearly all African states were represented, including the host nation.

The main purpose of the meeting was to formulate a committee for the Initiative for the Adaptation of African Agriculture (AAA) to climate change. The initiative was launched in April 2016, with Morocco taking the lead. African states found that Africa, Agriculture and Adaptation were not major features in international negotiations and therefore this initiative was born in order to change this. African nations are seeking ways to adapt their agriculture to the rising challenges of climate ahead of the COP22 Conference, scheduled to take place in Marrakech on 7-18 November 2016. Recognising that various changes are needed in terms of African agriculture, the Ministers of Agriculture, as well as Heads of Delegations, amongst other participants have committed developed countries to mobilising at least 100 billion US dollars per year to developing countries, in terms of agricultural aid.