The 26th Session of the Conference of the parties (COP26) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is taking place in Glasgow, Scotland, UK from 25 October to 12 November, 2021. National Carbon Monitoring Center (NCMC), Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) and Vice Presidents Office (VPO) participated the event. Prof. Josiah Z. Katani who is also the Principal of Mizengo Pinda Campus College participated in this session as one of the Tanzanian Delegates (representating NCMC and SUA).
The first week from 25 to 30 October involved Pre-COP26 sessions which are preparatory meetings of the Least Least Developed Countries (LDC), African Group of Negotiators (AGN), and the Group of G77 and China. These Pre-sessions were meant for party delegates of various negototaions blocks to get acquainted with and building common position on agenda for discussion and negotiation during the COP26 meetings.
The presessional meetings were then followed with high Level opening of the World Leadrs Summit (WLS) that were conducted on 1st and 2nd November 2021 at Scotish Event Center (SEC). The Summit was attended by approximately 120 Heads of States and Governments. Her Excelency Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania led Tanzania delegation and attended the World Leaders Summit and delivered a national statement.
In the national statement, H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania underlined and highlighted adverse impacts faced by Tanzania due to climate change; initiatives taken by her Government to asssit adaptation to climate change and mitigate emissions of greenhouse gases; expectations of COP26 included having a balance between adaptation and mitigation finance, need for developed country parties to fulfill their commitment to mobilize USD 100 billion annually by 2025 as per Paris Agreement. In addition, Tanzania was one of the countries that joined the World Leaders Declaration on Forest and Land Use. In the statement, H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan pointed out that Tanzania is committed to continue conserve, protect and plant trees that offer global service in sequestration of greenhouse gases.
The COP26 session which was held in parallel with other six meetings namely CMP[1], CMA[2], SBSTA[3], SBI[4] and SB[5] had different agenda for discussions and considerations including Adaptation and resilience; Loss and damage; Capacity-building; Climate Finance; Climate Technology development and transfer; Education & Youth, Gender; Global Stocktake; Innovation; Land Use; Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform; Market and Non-Market approaches; Mitigation; Pre-2020 Ambition and Implementation; and Research and systematic observation. All these topics are very relevant to the core business of NCMC and SUA. Dicussion and decision with regard to these agenda at various stages will unfold toward the end of the sessions set on 12 November 2021.
The COP meetings and outcomes are also very important for NCMC and SUA researchers to increase their visibilities, create networking, access different research partners and funders, and share research experiences. There is an opportunity for research and academic institutions for registering to UNFCCC to participate as Observers of COP meetings which provide opportunities for more researchers to attend through their research projects as the number of Tanzanian delegates is limited.
[1] CMP – Conference of Parties Serving as Meeting to Kyoto Protocol [2] CMA – Conference of the Parties Serving as Meeting to the Paris Agreement [3] SBSTA – Subsidiary Body for Science and Technical Advice [4] SBI – Subsidiary Body for Implementation [5] SB – Subsidiary Body
