By
Edmund Smith-Asante, Rabat, Morocco
 |
| The African journalists with some key officials of COP 22 after some interactions. |
Two
Ghanaian journalists have participated in a tour of Morocco as part of about 26
environmental journalists from selected Africa countries ahead of the 22nd
edition of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
annual conference dubbed COP 22 (the 22nd Conference of the Parties Climate
Change Conference) to be hosted by Morocco.
Other
journalists invited by the Steering Committee of COP 22 for the 10-day press
tour from July 10 to July 20, 2016 were from Morocco, Mauritania, Cameroon,
Gabon, Tunisia, Algeria, Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Benin, Senegal, The Gambia,
Guinea, Burkina Faso and Mali.
According
to the Head of Press and Communication for COP 22, Ms. Samira Sitail, the tour
was to afford the journalists firsthand knowledge on preparations being made by
the Moroccan government to host the climate change conference and also steps
being taken to mitigate the effects of the global phenomenon.
It was
also to educate the journalists on the issues related to climate change,
introduce them to some key players and officials responsible for the various
aspects of the upcoming conference and adequately equip them to report on the
upcoming COP 22 conference scheduled for November 2016.
The tour
 |
| Journalists at the site for COP 22 in Marrakech. |
The tour
took the journalists to five cities in Morocco, which were Casablanca, the
commercial capital, Rabat the political capital, Marrakech the city that will
host the conference, Quarzazate, where the world’s largest solar plant is still
under construction and Tanger, all in the northern part of the country.
Water,
climate conference et al
The
journalists attended a two-day international conference on water and climate
(ICWC) in Rabat on July 11 and July 12, 2016.
The
conference, which was on the theme “Water Security for Climate Justice” was
held to situate water in the upcoming climate change conference. Specifically,
the aim of the ICWC was to place water at the heart of COP 22 and measures for
the implementation of the Paris Agreement developed at COP 21 in France last
year.
The
journalists were also trained on the upcoming conference in a school dubbed COP
Academy in Rabat, participated in a renewable energy forum and carbon forum in
Marrakech, and also attended a climate change conference of countries in the
Mediterranean region dubbed MEDCOP Climate 2016 in Tanger.
Visits
were also made to the site for the COP 22 conference in Marrakech known as the
Bab Ighli, the Noor Solar Power Station in Ouarzazate, the Maghreb Arab Press
Agency (MAP) in Rabat and the 2M TV and radio station in Casablanca.
Meetings
with officials
The
journalists also met with ministers of State in the Moroccan government as well
as key officials responsible for various aspects of COP 22.
 |
| Mr Abdeslam Bekrate, Head of Logistics, Security and Safety welcoming the journalists to the interaction with the COP 22 Steering Committee. |
They
included the Head of Civil Society Activities and President of the National
Council of Human Rights in Morocco, Mr Driss El Yazami; COP22 Commissioner, Mr
Abdeladim Lhafi; the Head of Logistics, Security and Safety, Wali at the
Ministry of the Interior,Mr Abdeslam Bekrate and the President of the COP22
Scientific Committee, Mr Nizar Baraka.
Others
were the Head of Side Events and Director at the Ministry of the Environment,
Mr Mohamed Benyahia; the Head of Public-Private Partnership, Mr Said Mouline;
the Ambassador for Multilateral Negotiations, Mr Aziz Mekouar and the
Ambassador Counsellor to the COP22 President, Mr Said Benryane.
Also met
were the Minister of Agriculture and Maritime Fishing, Mr Aziz Akhannouch;
Minister of the Interior, Mr Mohamed Hassad and the Delegate Minister for Foreign
Affairs, Mr Nasser Bourita.
Writer’s
email: edmund.asante@graphic.com.gh
FACTS
• The United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) entered into force in 1994 and is aimed
at reducing greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere and the Conference of
Parties (COP) was designated as the supreme governing body of the Convention.
• The 22nd session of the COP (COP 22)
and the 12th session of the Meeting of Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP),
take place in Marrakech, Morocco from November 7 to November 18, 2016.
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