Brussels, 14 December 2015/ ACP: The Secretary General of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States H.E Dr. Patrick Gomes welcomes the historic outcome of the Paris Climate Change Conference (COP21), which accepted a global agreement on climate change on Saturday.

“We are heartened that the Paris Agreement addresses the core concerns expressed by the 79 ACP countries, which have been calling for a legally binding, inclusive, fair, ambitious, durable and dynamic agreement, including a mechanism for periodic review every five years,” stated the Secretary General.

“ACP member countries – including 37 Small Island Developing States (SIDS) – are strongly encouraged that loss and damage is addressed under the Agreement, and that all Parties have recognised the need to pursue efforts to limit global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.”

Given its significant role in building partnerships during the negotiations in Paris, the ACP Group will play an active role in supporting its 79 Member States to implement the Agreement, with the aim of also contributing towards the achievement of the sustainable development goals and ensuring a sustainable future for the Planet. In this regard, work such as that carried out under the framework of the Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA+) as well as its Intra-ACP component will be encouraged and enhanced in order to contribute to adaptation and mitigation efforts of ACP countries.

The Secretary General congratulates all who worked tirelessly to ensure a successful the Paris outcome, stating: “The global ambition to implement the Agreement must never wane. The ACP Group of States is ready to take on this challenge, and welcomes collaborating with relevant Partners to contribute to the implementation of the Paris Agreement.”

Read:EU and 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries join forces for ambitious global climate deal

Background:

The African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States comprises 79 member countries, including 48 developing countries in Africa, 16 in the Caribbean and 15 in the Pacific region. The ACP Group addresses poverty eradication, the promotion of sustainable development, and member countries’ equitable integration into the global economy.

Leading up to the Paris Climate Change Conference (COP21), the ACP Group released an Issues Paper on COP21 as well as a Declaration on the Paris Climate Change Conference by the ACP Council of Ministers. The Group reaffirmed the view that climate change threatens the very survival of ACP countries, and constitutes the single greatest challenge to the sustainable livelihoods, security and well-being of African, Caribbean and Pacific peoples, posing immediate and long-term significant risks to sustainable development efforts.

Other key concerns for the ACP Group include adaptation to climate variability and adequate support for adaptation actions especially for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS); loss and damage associated with impacts of climate change; mitigation and limits on global warming; climate financing; technology development/transfer and capacity building; and reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

On November 26, 2015, the ACP Group signed with the European Commission, the Intra-ACP strategy for the 11th European Development Fund, which will dedicate €475 million to support climate change, resilience building, and the environment up to 2020.

For more information contact:

Josephine Latu-Sanft
ACP Press Officer
+32 2 7430617
latu@acp.int