Opening remarks by Dr. Fatima Denton at CCDAIII, 21-23 October 2013 : 3rd Conference of the ClimDev-Africa programme

Abstract

Opening remarks by Dr. Fatima Denton at the 3rd Conference of the ClimDev-Africa Program taking place between 21st and 23rd of October. Dr. Fatima highlighted on her speech that, in the midst of the debate on the Conference of the Parties held annually within the context of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the lives and futures of these people are often forgotten, ignored as the discussions focus on semantics, markets, rights, technologies, institutions and who is entitled to what part of the atmospheric space. The principles of enlightened self-interest and common but differentiated responsibilities call for a shared vision, one that allows us to manage climate change impacts for the benefit of humanity and for the sustainable growth of Africa and the world’s children. Climate change is part of our reality, it defies our boundaries, it presents new challenges that mock our current institutions, it robs our people of their single biggest entitlement – their right to manage their natural resource for their benefit and that of their families; it challenges our knowledge and our deeply entrenched assumptions; it stifles the entrepreneurship of our youth and vulnerable groups and it reduces our opportunity space.