19th AMCEN (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 - Env & Eco)

Context: Fifty-four countries acknowledged key environmental challenges faced by the continent - land degradation, desertification and drought - in the Addis Ababa declaration, August 18, 2023. 

• The declaration was a key outcome of the 19th African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) 2023 held from August 14 to 18, 2023 at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 

Key Points

• The theme for AMCEN 2023 was “Seizing Opportunities and Enhancing Collaboration to Address Environmental Challenges in Africa”. 
• The declaration prioritises urgent, wide-ranging action on environmental challenges related to climate change, plastics pollution, marine protection, biodiversity conservation and natural capital. 
• These actions would minimise environmental impacts and contribute to the global goals of mitigating climate change, protecting ecosystems and promoting sustainable development.
• The countries also committed to take appropriate measures to implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework through updating or revising national biodiversity strategies and action plans or national targets.
• They will work towards closing the biodiversity finance gap of $700 billion per year. They have also jointly committed to work on increasing the flow of international finances. 
• The ministers have also resolved to work together and ensure that international financial flows to developing countries are increased to at least $20 billion per year by 2025. 
• The ultimate aim is to increase the global finance flow to at least $100 billion per year, stated the declaration. 
• The countries have also agreed to work on a priority to implement Africa Blue Economy Strategy of the African Union.

African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) 

• It was established in December 1985, following a conference of African ministers of environment held in Cairo, Egypt. 

• Its mandate is to provide advocacy for environmental protection in Africa; to ensure that basic human needs are met adequately and in a sustainable manner; to ensure that social and economic development is realized at all levels; and to ensure that agricultural activities and practices meet the food security needs of the region.