Summary Report

The seminar, co-organized by the Institute for Security Studies and the Ethiopian International Institute for Peace and Development, highlighted Africa's vulnerability to climate change and the necessity of a united African position for the Copenhagen talks. Key discussions centered on the EU's commitment to a 30% emission reduction by 2020 and a pledge of 100 billion Euros for developing countries, as well as the need for technology transfer and financial compensation for Africa. The event also detailed the institutional framework of the African Union's common position, including the role of a ten-country committee headed by Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

• Africa is identified as the most vulnerable continent to climate change impacts, specifically citing extreme poverty, rampant diseases, drought, and low agricultural productivity, which are expected to lead to intra- and inter-state conflicts over scarce natural resources.
• The European Union has committed to a 30% reduction in emissions by 2020 compared to 1990 levels and has pledged 100 billion Euros for total mitigation and adaptation programs in developing countries by 2020.
• The EU and African Union share a common goal of limiting the global temperature increase to no more than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
• African representatives argue that developed nations owe a debt to Africa due to pollution since the industrialization era and should provide financial support and technology transfer without restrictive copyrights.
• The African Union's common position was developed through a process starting in 2006, including the Algiers Platform in November 2008 and the Nairobi Declaration in May 2009.
• A committee of ten countries was established to represent Africa with one voice in climate negotiations, headed by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia; member countries include Algeria, Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Uganda, Libya, and South Africa.
• In Sub-Saharan Africa, over 85% of the population relies on biomass (wood, dung, and waste) for household energy, which contributes significantly to expanding desertification.

APA

Tadesse, D., & Michago, W. (2009). Summary Report. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/20NOV09SUMMARY.PDF

Chicago

Tadesse, Debay, and Wondwosen Michago. Summary Report. Institute for Security Studies, 2009. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/20NOV09SUMMARY.PDF.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Tadesse |first1=Debay |last2=Michago |first2=Wondwosen |title=Summary Report |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=20 November 2009 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/20NOV09SUMMARY.PDF |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{tadesse2009summary, author = {Tadesse, Debay and Michago, Wondwosen}, title = {{Summary Report}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2009}, month = nov, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/20NOV09SUMMARY.PDF}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }