Critical Assessment Of The Role And The Response Of The African Union And Subregional Intergovernmental Organizations In Combating Climate Change

Africa is the continent which contributes least to global emissions of greenhouse gases-yet is thernmost vulnerable to its effects of reducing agricultural production, food security, increasedrnflooding and drought, widespread diseases, availability of water, and conflict over scarce landrnand water resources. The fact that Africa is regarded as one of the most vulnerable continents inrnterms of climate change means that Africa needs to take some initiatives to combat the adversernimpacts of climate change. The continent’s particular vulnerability will be exacerbated unlessrnurgent action is taken. This thesis is conducted to identify the actual and potential impacts ofrnclimate change in Africa, international climate change negotiations and how and to what extentrnthese international negotiations have been protecting the interests of Africa. Specifically, thernthesis aims to identify the roles and responses of the African Union and sub-regionalrnintergovernmental organizations in combating climate change. To gather the needed data,rnexploratory method of research is used to explore international climate change regimes, climaternchange regimes of the African Union and sub-regional intergovernmental organizations,rndecisions and declarations of the African Union, programs and projects implemented by thernAfrican Union, sub- regional intergovernmental organizations and individual African states. Thernresults showed that the African Union, as a pan African institution, responds to avert therncatastrophes of climate change by enacting its own climate change regimes, acceding to thernUNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol, developing its common position to climate change. The AfricanrnUnion also responds to climate change in partnership with various multilateral and bilateralrnorganizations. On the other hand, sub- regional intergovernmental organizations also play a keyrnrole in combating climate change. However, the responses of the African Union and subregionalrnintergovernmental organizations is mainly hampered by member states’ conflictingrnneeds and interests, lack of clear relationship between the African Union and sub- regionalrnintergovernmental organizations, regional power house and the existence of various policy gapsrnat the national and sub- regional levels. So, sub- regional intergovernmental organizations andrnindividual African states should harmonize interests and needs with that of the African Union.rnAfrican governments should integrate climate change issues into economic planning andrnmanagement at both national levels and should enhance coordination among them. Measures

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