Regional experts pushing for common agenda ahead of COP 23

Congo Brazzaville is holding an extraordinary conference on the environment and economy of the Economic Community of Central African States and the East African Community. Experts from 16 African countries held the meeting in Congo’s capital with a focus to acceleration of the operationalisation of the climate commission for the Congo Basin.

According to the Congo’s Environment and Tourism Minister, Arlette Sudan Nonault, the meeting of experts must address the ongoing rampant environmental pollution.

“It is a question of political will. For too long we have considered that ecology has been a luxury to the rich countries. In so doing, we have persistently allowed the industries to pollute the environment and also use it as a means to experiment their studies. We must establish a forceful and credible report. Yes the Fund as blue like any other must be operational,” Congo’s Environment and Tourism Minister said.

The meeting is set to develop a strategy on how to speed up the operationalisation of the Congo Basin Commission of which the Blue Fund of the Congo Basin, the Green Business Fund and other initiatives created to ensure economic development within the region do not compromise environment conservation.

The experts are also expected to strategize the agenda for the joint activities of the 16 countries at COP23, as well as the draft operating budget for the Blue Fund and the Green Economy Fund for Central Africa.