The African Union Commission organized a
celebration of Africa Environment Day, 3 March 2008,
under the theme “Adapting to Climate Change for
Livelihood Security in Africa”, with a fi eld event at the
Biofarm Institute in Addis Ababa. The AU Commissioner
for Rural Economy and Agriculture, Ms. Rosebud Kurwijila
was accompanied by several of her senior staff and
other AU personnel who came in two buses in spite of
the organization observing the national holiday to mark
the legendary Battle of Adowa. This is the second time
the event has been celebrated in Ethiopia, the fi rst being
the inaugural year in 2005. The day was a proposal from
Libya and was designated by the Council of Ministers
- CM/Dec.686 - at the 2002 Summit after a proposal by
Libya].
Ms. Kurwijila spoke on behalf of the AU and
kicked off the activities after short remarks by UNEP
Representative Strike Mkandla and by Mr. Gertachew
Tikubet, Director of Integrated Biofarm Enterprise (IBE)
and Resident Representative of the International Centre
of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) in Ethiopia.
The UNEP remarks included reference to the content of
a message sent on the occasion of Africa Environment
Day by the Executive Secretary of the Convention on
Biological Diversity, Mr. Ahmed Djoghlaf (see box for the
CBD statement). On her part Commissioner Kurwijila also
distributed a full text of the statement by the Chairperson
of the AU Commission Prof. Alpha Oumar Konaré. The
latter said, among other things, that Africa’s leaders in their
wisdom resolved to mark this Day annually to rededicate
themselves to the ideals of sustainable environmental
management and protection. The statement said with
respect to the theme, “The phenomena of climate change
and climate variability pose real challenges for our dear
continent. The need to adapt to climate change and to put
in place appropriate mitigation strategies have become
indispensable if Africa is to consolidate the laudable
achievements made in the fi eld of socio-economic
advancement”.
After thanking IBE and co-organizers UNEP,
the Commissioner led the multitude of participants that
included students, diplomats from several countries.
including Sudan and Libya, and other participants to
stimulate its use for urban and rural agriculture.
(Addis Ababa Highlights)