United Kingdom (Commonwealth Union)_ Ahead of the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in November, more than 70 local stakeholders in Mauritius have successfully completed an intensive training program focused on international climate negotiations. The Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub (CCFAH), in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management, and Climate Change of Mauritius, is organizing the first Capacity Building Workshop on Climate Change Negotiations from April 19 to May 12, 2023.
Further, the European Union provided support for this initiative through the Intra EU-ACP GCCA+ program, facilitated by the Indian Ocean Commission. Over the course of four three-day training sessions, a total of 74 public sector officials and representatives of civil society were equipped with essential skills to navigate international climate negotiations. The training was presided over by Dr. Oduetse Oldman Koboto, the General Manager of CCFAH, along with support from Soumik Biswas, the Commonwealth National Climate Finance Adviser for Mauritius; Unnikrishnan Nair, the Head of the Climate Section at the Commonwealth Secretariat; and Dr. Helene Gichenje, the Commonwealth Regional Climate Finance Adviser for Africa, who presided over technical sessions.
The Minister of Environment of Mauritius, Hon. Kavydass Ramano, opened the first session. According to him, the training aimed to equip stakeholders with the necessary skills to comprehend the intricacies and requirements involved in formulating the national position to safeguard Mauritius’ interests on the international stage. During the training, participants, over half of them women and several young individuals, were briefed on the main subjects of the international climate negotiation process as part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This included an overview of the annual Conference of the Parties (COP), decisions of the Paris Agreement, the results of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), and the duties of subsidiary bodies, thematic working groups, and negotiation bodies. Further, delegates also explored several negotiation themes such as adaptation, mitigation, finance, and loss and damage.
A youth participant named, Perraud Lysa-Jade, President of the National Forum for Colleges Mauritius, emphasized the importance of educating the younger generation about the realities of climate change and equipping them with the necessary skills to drive change. Reflecting on the enriching experience of the training, she expressed confidence that the students would benefit from it in multiple ways. Dr. Helen Gichenje, the Commonwealth Regional Climate Finance Adviser, highlighted that the trained participants would be able to negotiate more effectively, not only representing Mauritius but also supporting the African Group of Negotiators and the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) negotiating groups.
Soumik Biwas, the Commonwealth National Climate Finance Adviser for Mauritius, added that SIDS, including Mauritius, bears a disproportionate threat of climate impacts and has demonstrated exceptional leadership in the global climate change arena despite resource constraints. According to him, this training will enhance Mauritius’ ability, as well as that of other SIDS, to articulate their perspectives effectively and urge the global community to take immediate action during climate change negotiations. Under the ongoing efforts, an innovative training initiative is scheduled ahead of COP28 for a specific group of participants from the workshops in Mauritius. Additionally, future workshops in association with other partners are envisioned for Commonwealth nations at both the national and regional levels.
