Malawi, the Chair of the 45 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) Group, is hosting a Strategy and Ministerial Meeting in the capital, Lilongwe.
This leadership transition from Senegal places Malawi at the forefront of global climate negotiations for the LDC bloc until December 2025.
Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change, Yusuf Nkungula, highlighted the urgency of the meeting.
“The unified voice of the LDCs is crucial in shaping international climate policies and negotiations,” said Nkungula.
Taonga Mbale Luka, Director of Environmental Affairs, emphasised the need for strategic climate action, noting, “The climate crisis is moving faster than the pace of our negotiations, demanding greater resources and urgency.”
The objectives of the meeting are to solidify the LDCs’ strategies ahead of COP29, focusing on critical issues such as the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on Climate Finance, high-quality carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, and financing mechanisms for loss and damage.
The discussions will also address the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), with the aim of increasing resilience in vulnerable nations.
“This gathering is pivotal in setting a unified agenda, strengthening our negotiating positions, and advancing towards a resilient and sustainable global climate framework,” added Nkungula.
Chairperson of the LDC Group on Climate Change, Evans Njewa, underscored the strategic goals of the meeting, focusing on the establishment of a permanent LDC Secretariat.
“We are working towards establishing a permanent Secretariat for the LDCs, ensuring continuity and stronger representation,” said Njewa.
The meeting also aims to consolidate strategies for COP29, advocating for substantial financial support, technology transfer, and capacity building to tackle the escalating climate crisis.
The meeting, themed “Uniting for 1.5 Degrees Celsius – Aligned Climate Action and Resilient Futures,” is attended by state and non state actors including climate experts from across the LDCs and members of Association Of Environmental Journalists (AEJ) in Malawi.
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