Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, August 05, 2021 – GGGI launched a session on COP26 called “climate breakfast session: on the road to COP26” for civil society organizations (CSOs) under the partnership with Open Society Initiative for West Africa and the UK Embassy.

The aim of the climate breakfast sessions was to get CSOs and other stakeholders informed about the COP26 trends, objectives, and expectations. This breakfast session was attended by the Country Representative of Global Green Growth Institute Dr. Mallé Fofana, the Director of the Fight Against Climate Change (DLCC) of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, Dr. Eric Assamoi, the Development Advisor of the British Embassy, Carine Jonckheere and president of CSOs based in Abidjan.

Mallé gave the opening remarks by stressing the importance of supporting CSO on climate change-related issues and give them the necessary tools to play that role, especially during the CoP26

The DLCC explained the approach taken by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development to prepare the COP26, the accreditation process, the establishment of the steering committee at the national level, and other requirements to participate in COP26. Dr. Eric explained the level of ambition under the revised NDC that the government has and would like to express it during COP26. The issues related to Article 6 were raised and discussed as well.

CSOs asked many questions to better their understanding about the level of progress for NDCs, and the level of ambitions in Cote d’Ivoire, and how developing countries are considering the current disasters in Europe, in their climate commitment. Responses were provided by representatives of the Ministry of the Environment and the British Embassy.

Around the discussions, the CSOs formulated relevant proposals to improve the participation of Côte d’Ivoire. It was on a note of hope that they left satisfied with this first ‘’ Climate breakfast: on the road to COP26.

Ms. Carine Jonckheere indicated that Côte d’Ivoire held a good place on the African chessboard in terms of its engagement in international negotiations.

The session ended with a few words of thanks by GGGI’s country representative, Dr. Mallé Fofana, to the participants. This Climate breakfast session is part of the project: “Empowering Local Non-State Actors and Vulnerable Communities for Climate Action and Resilience in Côte d’Ivoire” funded by OSIWA and implemented in Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire.