Arab Group

As the 'Katowice Climate Package' is adopted, Michał Kurtyka, COP 24 President, takes a giant leap for climate action The Katowice Climate Change conference continued on Saturday, a day after its scheduled close. Delegates engaged in consultations throughout the day to finalize the decisions for the Paris Agreement Work Programme (PAWP).The plenary convened at 9:30 pm to consider the decisions. CMA 1-3 was gavelled to a close on Sunday morning at 12:33 am. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily reports, daily web coverage, and a summary and analysis from the Katowice Climate Change Conference – December 2018.   Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Closing Plenary UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa arrives in plenary Michał Kurtyka, COP 24 President, arrives in plenary Delegates stand at the beginning of plenary and hold a minute of silence in honour of Bernarditas Muller, Philippines Michał Kurtyka, COP 24 President UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa As the 'Katowice Climate Package' is adopted, Michał Kurtyka, COP 24 President, invites heads of delegation to the podium Michał Kurtyka, COP 24 President, thanks delegates for their help in achieving the 'Katowice Climate Package' Miguel Arias Cañete, Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, European Commission Franz Perrez, Switzerland, speaking on behalf of the Environmental Integrity Group (EIG) Amjad Abdulla, Maldives, speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Patrick Suckling, Australia, speaking on behalf of the Umbrella Group Wael Aboulmagd, Egypt, speaking on behalf of the G-77/China Mohamed Nasr, Gabon, speaking on behalf of the African Group Ravi Prasad, India, speaking on behalf of Brazil, South Africa, India, and China (BASIC) Albara Tawfiq, Saudi Arabia, speaking on behalf of the Arab Group Gebru Jember Endalew, Ethiopia, speaking on behalf of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) Gurdial Singh, Malaysia, speaking on behalf of the Like-minded Developing Countries (LMDCs) Zakir Hossain, Farmers Shaila Shahid, Women and Gender Joint statement on behalf of Youth NGOs (YOUNGOs) Delegates Consult Informally Delegates from the EU, US, Australia, and Switzerland Delegates from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the COP 24 Presidency Delegates from Switzerland and Norway Jo Tyndall, New Zealand, speaks with Tomasz Chruszczow, Poland Ministers from Luxembourg and Spain speak with delegates from the EU and Norway Delegates huddle during the final stages of negotiations UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa Martin Frick, UNFCCC Secretariat Kimmo Tiilikainen, Minister for Housing, Energy, and the Environment, Finland Pieter Terpstra, the Netherlands, and Philip Weech, Bahamas Katarzyna Snyder, COP 24 Presidency Mehmet Emin Birpınar, Turkey Family Photos UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa poses for a photo with the delegation from Mexico The COP 24 Presidency Family photo of the UNFCCC Secretariat Family photo of negotiators working on ex-ante finance transparency (Article 9.5) Family photo of negotiators working on the transparency framework Family photo of negotiators for the transparency framework from the G-77/China Tribute to Bernarditas Muller After learning of her passing, delegates pay tribute to Bernarditas Muller, Philippines, who was recognised for her commitment and dedication to the UNFCCC, a 'legend within the process' Around the Venue SBSTA Chair Paul Watkinson, France Seyni Nafo, Mali, and Zaheer Fakir, South Africa Delegates read the latest draft of text Jo Tyndall, New Zealand Issa Bado, International Organisation of the Francophonie (OIF) Matt McGrath, BBC Ovais Sarmad, UNFCCC Deputy Executive Secretary Staff around the venue  

Highlights for Thursday, 6 December 2018 Delegates huddle during informal consultations Posted by IISD Reporting Services on Thursday, 6 December 2018 The Katowice Climate Change Conference continued on Thursday with informal consultations and contact groups meeting on a range of issues.The preparatory phase of the Talanoa Dialogue concluded. Ambassador Luke Daunivalu, COP 23 Presidency, and Adam Guibourgé-Czetwertyński, COP 24 Presidency, presented the synthesis report of the Talanoa Dialogue’s activities throughout 2018. They highlighted the involvement of a diverse range of stakeholders, including 482 inputs through the Talanoa Platform and the participation of 305 storytellers in the “Talanoas” held in May 2018. During the event, many parties and observers reported they too had held Talanoas at local, national, and regional levels to discuss climate action. The IPCC, celebrating its 30th anniversary, presented the findings from the Special Report on 1.5°C of Global Warming.In the evening, the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA) held a stocktaking session, which was followed by an informal meeting convened by the permanent Subsidiary Bodies’ chairs on the Paris Agreement Work Programme (PAWP).For more details on the day's events and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB). IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily reports, daily web coverage, and a summary and analysis from the Katowice Climate Change Conference – December 2018. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Talanoa Dialogue: Wrap-up Meeting of the Preparatory Phase Luke Daunivalu, COP 23 Presidency, Fiji Adam Guibourgé-Czetwertyński, COP 24 Presidency Franz Perrez, Switzerland IPCC Chair Hoesung Lee IPCC Working Group Co-Chairs Valérie Masson-Delmotte, France, Panmao Zhai, China, Hans-Otto Pörtner, Germany, Debra Roberts, South Africa, and Jim Skea, UK Balisi Justice Gopolang, Botswana, speaking on behalf of the African Group Renata Negrelly Nogueira, Brazil Chu Thị Thanh Hương, Viet Nam David Adejo Andrew, Nigeria Mahendra Kumar, Marshall Islands Alicia Maria Amancio da Silva, Youth NGOs (YOUNGO) Franz Perrez, Switzerland, and IPCC Chair Hoesung Lee cut a large cake to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the IPCC Informal Consultations throughout the Day Informal consultations on mitigation (APA item 3) Informal consultations on implementation and compliance (APA item 7) SBI informal consultations on the development of a public registry referred to in Paris Agreement Article 7.12 (adaptation communication) SBI informal consultations on gender and climate change Informal consultations on adaptation communication (APA item 4) Informal consultations on possible additional matters (APA item 8) APA Stocktaking Meeting on Items 3-8 View of plenary during the meeting Federica Fricano, Italy, Co-Facilitator for APA agenda item 3 - mitigation Julio Cordano, Chile, Co-Facilitator for APA agenda item 4 - adaptation communication APA Co-Chairs Jo Tyndall, New Zealand, and Sarah Baashan, Saudi Arabia Xiang Gao, China, Co-Facilitator for APA agenda item 5 - transparency Outi Honkatukia, Finland, Co-Facilitator for APA agenda item 6 - global stocktake Christina Voigt, Norway, Co-Facilitator for APA agenda item 7 - implementation and compliance Pieter Terpstra, the Netherlands, Co-Facilitator for APA agenda item 8 - further matters, Adaptation Fund Wael Aboulmagd, Egypt, speaking on behalf of the G-77/China Mona Al-Attas, Saudi Arabia, speaking on behalf of the Arab Group Patrick Suckling, Australia, speaking on behalf of the Umbrella Group Andrea Guerrero, Colombia, speaking on behalf of the Independent Alliance of Latin America and the Carribean (AILAC) Informal Meeting by the SB Chairs on PAWP Delegates during the session SBI Chair Emmanuel Dlamini, eSwatini SBSTA Chair Paul Watkinson, France Amjad Abdulla, Maldives, speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Launch of Young and Future Generations Day The Climate Action Hub is filled to capacity during the launch of Young and Future Generations Day Deo Saran, Fiji Adriana Valenzuela, UNFCCC Secretariat Civil Society Demonstrations Members of civil society demonstrate in the hallways, calling for an end to fossil fuels and a shift to renewable energy Eric Meyer, Generation Atomic, sings an operatic ballad about the benefits of nuclear energy in addressing climate change An action organized by the Climate Change Forum and Korean Youth Delegates raises awareness about the importance of the PAWP and calls on delegates to be 'PAWP champions' by banging a gavel on the 'Paris Agreement Rulebook' In an action organised by Care About Climate, a call is made to "listen to the people" during the negotiations Around the Venue Delegates between sessions Amjad Abdulla, Maldives, speaks with a delegate Reinaldo Salgado, Brazil, speaks with a delegate Wael Aboulmagd, Egypt, speaks with a delegate Alf Wills and Maesela Kekana, South Africa UN Security Members of the UNFCCC Secretariat Gebru Jember Endalew, Ethiopia, speaks with delegates

Highlights for Sunday, 2 December 2018 Ovais Sarmad, UNFCCC Deputy Executive Secretary, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa, and Frank Bainimarama, COP 23/CMP 13/CMA 1-2 President, sit on the dais as the Katowice Climate Change Conference begins The Katowice Climate Change Conference opened on Sunday, 2 December, a day earlier than originally scheduled. Parties used this extra day to launch work under all of the bodies meeting at the conference: The 24th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 24) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); The 14th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 14); The 3rd part of the first session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the parties for the Paris Agreement (CMA 1-3); 49th session of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI 49); 49th session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 49); and The 7th part of the first session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA 1-7). There were several reminders throughout the day of the urgency of the work to complete the details that will operationalize the Paris Agreement, which is due by the close of this meeting. As COP 24 President Michał Kurtyka explained, the work will be “multi-layered,” involving technical discussions and, when needed, discussions elevated to heads of delegations to unlock progress.For more details on the day’s events and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB). IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily reports, daily web coverage, and a summary and analysis from the Katowice Climate Change Conference – December 2018. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Morning Plenary UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa, Frank Bainimarama, COP 23/CMP 13/CMA 1-2 President, and Michał Kurtyka, COP 24/CMP 14/CMA 1-3 President, arrive in plenary View of the dais during the morning plenary The COP Presidency is handed over to Michał Kurtyka, COP 24 President Michał Kurtyka, COP 24 President Frank Bainimarama, COP 23 President Delegates during plenary Amjad Abdulla, Maldives Andrew Neustaetter, US Patrick Suckling, Australia Mohamed Nasr, Gabon, speaking on behalf of the African Group Opening Plenaries for SBI, SBSTA, and APA SBI Chair Emmanuel Dlamini, eSwatini, convenes the SBI opening plenary SBI Chair Emmanuel Dlamini, eSwatini Thiago de Araujo Mendes, Brazil SBSTA Chair Paul Watkinson, France, convenes the SBSTA opening plenary Elena Manaenkova, Deputy Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Jane Hupe, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Delegates from Saudi Arabia in negotiation with SBSTA Chair Paul Watkinson, France, during the plenary APA Co-Chair Sarah Baashan, Saudi Arabia, convenes the APA opening plenary APA Contact Group APA Co-Chair Jo Tyndall, New Zealand, convenes the APA Contact Group APA family photo SBI, SBSTA, and APA Joint Plenary View of the joint plenary Vladimir Uskov, COP Vice-President Wael Aboulmagd, Egypt, speaking on behalf of the G-77/China Gebru Jember Endalew, Ethiopia, speaking on behalf of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) Yoo Yeonchul, Republic of Korea, speaking on behalf of the Environmental Integrity Group (EIG) Carolina Díaz Acosta, Colombia, speaking on behalf of the Independent Association of Latin America and the Caribbean (AILAC) Ayman Shasly, Saudi Arabia, speaking on behalf of the Arab Group Helmut Hojesky, EU Ravi Prasad, India, speaking on behalf of Brazil, South Africa, India, and China (BASIC) Majid Shafiepour, Iran, speaking on behalf of the Like-minded Developing Countries (LMDCs) Ruth Kaviok, Indigenous Peoples Zhenglin Liu and Maria Auma, Youth NGOs (YOUNGOs) Informal Consultations throughout the Day Delegates consult informally throughout the day Around the Venue Delegates gather on the first day of COP 24 Helen Plume, New Zealand, speaks with a delegate Kishan Kumarsingh, Trinidad and Tobago, speaks with SBSTA Chair Paul Watkinson, France Michał Kurtyka, COP 24 President, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa, and Alex Saier, UNFCCC Secretariat, during a press conference Delegates from Monaco 'Sustaina Claus' speaks with a delegate Michał Kurtyka, COP 24 President Members of the EIG wear pieces of green to show their commitment to creating a green future Frank Bainimarama, COP 23/CMP 13/CMA 1-2 President, takes photographs with UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa UN Security at the start of plenary SBSTA Chair Paul Watkinson, France; Wanna Tanunchaiwatana, SBSTA Coordinator; SBI Chair Emmanuel Dlamini, eSwatini; Katia Simeonova, SBI Coordinator; APA Co-Chairs Jo Tyndall, New Zealand, and Sarah Baashan, Saudi Arabia; and Sergey Kononov, APA Coordinator Mehmet Emin Birpınar, Turkey Delegates speak informally Helmut Hojesky, Austria, speaks with a delegate Delegates between sessions

Representatives from the Tunisian Red Crescent and UNISDR pose for a photo at the conclusion of the event The Africa-Arab Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) concluded on Saturday, 13 October in Tunis, Tunisia, with the adoption of two declarations: the Tunis Declaration on DDR by the Fourth Arab Conference on DDR; and the Tunis Declaration on Accelerating the Implementation of the Sendai Framework and the African Regional Strategy for DDR by the Sixth High-level Meeting.The Africa-Arab Platform celebrated the International Day for Disaster Reduction with an inaugural media award in recognition of reporting on the continent, and the role of the media in raising awareness around disasters, and forming a stronger network for resilience.During the closing session, Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, UNISDR, noted that the meeting had shone a light on some of the greatest challenges facing DRR and the need to focus on "building back better" and catalyzing action for gender parity. She emphasized that disaster risk management (DRM) would never reach its full potential without adopting a people-centered approach. Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, African Union Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, expressed: gratitude to the Ministers for charting a vision; intention to work with AU partners to implement the Tunis Declaration; and the need for effective partnership and collaboration.Abdellatif Abid, Assistant Secretary General of League of Arab States, highlighted ties between Arab states and the African Union, noting that the Platform has provided governments and stakeholders an opportunity to take stock of progress towards implementation of the Sendai Framework. Riad Mouakhar, Minister of Local Affairs and Environment, Tunisia, closed the meeting at 5:56 pm, expressing hope that all stakeholders would do their part to support implementation of the Sendai Framework. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, provided daily coverage and a summary report from the Africa-Arab Platform on DRR. In addition, IISD Reporting Services will publish a summary report of the meeting on Tuesday, 16 October 2018. Photos by IISD/ENB | Natalia Mroz For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Africa Ministerial Plenary Ben Moussa Habib, Scientific Advisor of the Ministry of Local Affairs and Environment, Tunisia Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG), UNISDR Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, African Union Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture Nazir Soobratty, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Social Security, National Solidarity and Environment and Sustainable Development, Mauritius Riadh Mouakhar, Minister of Local Affairs and Environment, Tunisia Maimuna Tarishi, Permanent Secretary, Prime Minister's Office, Tanzania Special Session: Towards Resilient Infrastructure in the Arab Region L-R: Ragy Saro, UNISDR; Ahmed Majid Bahri Al-Zerkan, Ministry of Environment, Iraq; Slah Zouri, Bridges and Road Equipment Ministry, Tunisia; Sujit Mohanty, UNISDR; Jalal Al Dabbeek, DRR Center at An Najah National University, Palestine; and Nuha Eltinay, Arab Urban Development Institute (AUDI) Nuha Eltinay, AUDI Sujit Mohanty, UNISDR Jalal Al Dabbeek, DRR Center at An Najah National University, Palestine Slah Zouari, Bridges and Road Equipment Ministry, Tunisia Ahmed Majid Bahri Al-Zerkan, Ministry of Environment, Iraq Mark Harvey, Resurgence  Sujit Mohanty, UNISDR and Nuha Eltinay, AUDI, share a light moment Arab Ministerial Plenary L-R: Abdellatif Obaid, Vice Secretary General, League of Arab States, Chokri Ben Hassen, Secretary of State for Legal Affairs and Environment, Tunisia; Riadh Mouakhar, Minister of Local Affairs and Environment, Tunisia; Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG), UNISDR Sghaier Ben Jeddou, Agence de Protection et D'amenagement du Littoral, Tunisia, presents the draft Tunis Decleration on DRR Abel Badir el Riyahi, Ministry of Environment, Iraq, makes a comment International Day for Disaster Reduction and Media Award David Owino, Disaster Risk Reduction Network of Africa Journalists (DIRAJ) L-R: Hosam El-Sokkari, Media and Communications Consultant; David Owino, DIRAJ, and Mami Mizutori, UNISDR, pose with the winners of the DRR Media Award Closing Ceremony L-R: Riadh Mouakhar, Minister of Local Affairs and Environment, Tunisia; Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, African Union Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture; Mami Mizutori, UNISDR; and Abdellatif Obaid, Vice Secretary General, League of Arab States Abdellatif Abid, Assistant Secretary General, League of Arab States Riadh Mouakhar, Minister of Local Affairs and Environment, Tunisia and Mami Mizutori, UNISDR Participants and panelists pose for a group photo at the conclusion of the event Around the Venue      

L-R: Jean D'Cunha, UN Women; Kirsi Madi, Director, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR); Amjad Mohamed-Saleem, International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC); Adalah Atteereh, Minister of Environment, Palestine; Iman Rafei, Deputy Governor, Zgharta District, Lebanon; and Richard Asaba Bagonza, Kampala International University, Uganda The Africa-Arab Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) continued on Friday, 12 October in Tunis, Tunisia. IISD/RS covered a selection of sessions on: gender inclusive DRR; partnership for DRR; and DDR in a fragile and conflict context. The session on gender inclusive DRR underscored: the gender dimensions of climate change and how gender focused research can highlight the magnitude of risks faced by men and women; boys and girls; youth; people with disabilities; and other disadvantaged groups. During the session on partnership for DRR, participants considered the role of scientific evidence-based assessments for strengthening intergovernmental processes around DRR and how enhancing participatory, self-led meaningful engagement is key to successful partnerships. A special session on DRR in a fragile and conflict context addressed the global trend of increased vulnerability to disaster and how empowering women has led to environmental and social gains, reinforcing the need to empower local leadership in the absence of state leadership.In the afternoon, an Africa-Arab High-Level Session focused on enhancing coherence among DRR, climate change and SDGs for inclusive, resilient and sustainable development in Africa and Arab regions. Participants compared progress on integrating the Sendai Framework with the post-2015 processes such as the SDGs, and Paris Agreement within the Africa and Arab States, and identified common areas of interest for the two regions for future collaboration.Arab States and Africa plenary sessions provided participants an opportunity to reflect and comment on the draft Tunis declaration for the sixth high-level meeting on DRR. In the evening, participants attended a reception hosted by the Government of Tunisia. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, is provided daily coverage and a summary report from the Africa-Arab Platform on DRR. Photos by IISD/ENB | Natalia Mroz For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Working Session 5: Gender Inclusive DRR Kirsi Madi, Director, UNISDR Adalah Atteereh, Minister of Environment, Palestine Amjad Mohamed-Saleem, IFRC Richard Asaba Bagonza, Kampala International University, Uganda Iman Rafei, Deputy Governor, Zgharta District, Lebanon Jean D'Cunha, UN Women, addresses the room Working Session 6: Partnership for DRR L-R: Chadi Abdallah, National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS); Ibrahim Adam El Dukheri, Director-General, Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD); Dominique Kuitsouc, Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), African Union; Quamrul Chowdhury, Lead Climate Negotiator, LDC States; Reda Shmait, UN Major Group for Children and Youth (UN-MGCY); and Ailsa Holloway, Director, Periperi U Secretariat Ibrahim Adam El Dukheri, Director-General, AOAD Reda Shmait, UN-MGCY Quamrul Chowdhury, Lead Climate Negotiator, LDCs Ailsa Holloway, Periperi U Chadi Abdallah, CNRS Dominique Kuitsouc, ECCAS Disaster Risk Reduction in a Fragile and Conflict Context: National and Local Perspectives L-R: Nina Stuurman, International Organization for Migration (IOM); Katie Peters, ODI; Hamza Said Hamza, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Somalia; Abdessalam Ould Ahmed, FAO; and Banak Dei Wal, Director General of Disaster Management, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, South Sudan Abdessalam Ould Ahmed, FAO Nina Stuurman, IOM, and Katie Peters, ODI Banak Dei Wal, Director General of Disaster Management, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, South Sudan Hamza Said Hamza, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Somalia A participant intervenes during the discussion session A participant engages in discussions with panelists Africa-Arab Official Statements Damene Darota, Deputy Commissioner, Ethiopia Soltan Saad Al-Moraikhi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Qatar Africa-Arab High-Level Session: Enhancing Coherence Among DRR, Climate Change and SDGs for Inclusive, Resilient and Sustainable Development in Africa and Arab Regions L-R: Jill De Villiers, Executive Producer, CNBC Africa; Khangeziwe Mabuza, Principal Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office, eSwatini; Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG), UNISDR; Adalah Atteereh, Minister of Environment, Palestine; Sheikh Saleh Habimana, Ambassador of Rwanda to Tunisia; and Nada Al-Agizy, Director, Sustainable Development and International Cooperation, League of Arab States Khangeziwe Mabuza, Principal Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office, eSwatini L-R: Jill De Villiers, CNBC Africa, and Khangeziwe Mabuza, Principal Secretary, Prime Minister Office, eSwatini Mami Mizutori, UNISDR Nada Al-Agizy, Director, Sustainable Development and International Cooperation, League of Arab States Sheikh Saleh Habimana, Ambassador of Rwanda to Tunisia Panelists pose for a photograph Tunis Declaration Draft Discussions A view of the room during consideration of the draft Tunis declaration by the Arab States Habib Ben Moussa, Ministry of Local Affairs and Environment, Tunisia and Amjad Abbashar, Chief, UNISDR Regional Office for Africa co-chaired the African drafting committee Around the Venue    

L-R: Kirsi Madi, Director, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR); Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, African Union Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture; Riadh Mouakhar, Minister of Local Affairs and Environment, Tunisia; and Abdellatif Obaid, Vice Secretary General, League of Arab States The Africa-Arab Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) officially opened on Thursday, 11 October in Tunis, Tunisia.In welcoming remarks, Kirsi Madi, Director, UNISDR, urged countries that have not done so to adopt national strategies, and move from planning to implementation while recognizing links between DRR, climate change, and the SDGs. Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, African Union Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, welcomed the cooperation between African and Arab States in this first joint event on DRR, and highlighted the need for States to invest in DRR as a matter of survival. Abdellatif Obaid, Vice Secretary General, League of Arab States said efforts were underway to establish an Arab-Africa fund for DRR. Riadh Mouakhar, Minister of Local Affairs and Environment, Tunisia, described the DRR challenges faced by Tunisia and responses, including work on a national DRR strategy through an inclusive process.IISD/RS covered some of the working sessions that took place during the day, including: Economics of DRR: Risk-informed development and investment in disaster and climate risks management; DRR strategies: Stepping up efforts towards achieving target (e) of the Sendai Framework by 2020 – progress made at sub-regional, national and local levels; National perspectives on the role of disaster prevention, preparedness, early warning, response and recovery in achieving resilient, inclusive and sustainable development in Africa and Arab States; and Climate and disaster risk: Engaging local communities for inclusive DRM. In addition, a side event on linking DRR, climate change adaptation, and sustainable development through the human security approach; and an event to commemorate World Tsunami Awareness Day were also covered. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, provided daily coverage and a summary report from the Africa-Arab Platform on DRR.   Photos by IISD/ENB | Natalia Mroz For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Official Opening Riadh Mouakhar, Minister of Local Affairs and Environment, Tunisia Kirsi Madi, Director, UNISDR Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, African Union Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture Abdellatif Obaid, Vice Secretary General, League of Arab States Key Presentations Amjad Abbashar, Chief, UNISDR Regional Office for Africa Gatkuoth Kai, African Union Commission Saloua Khiari, Governor of Nabeul, Tunisia Sign language interpretation during the session Members of the media Participants greet each other before the session Working Session 1: Economics of DRR Pier Paolo Balladelli, UNDP, Angola Thandi Mwape, Partners for Resilience (PrR) Orsola Lussignoli, BMZ, Germany Roberto Rudari, CIMA Research Foundation Thandi Mwape, PrR, and Fadi Hamdan, Disaster Risk Management Centre (DRMC) A participants poses a question to the panel Working Session 2: DRR Strategies L-R: María Mercedes Martínez, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Jo Scheuer, Director for Climate Change and DRR, UNDP; Sujit Mohanty, UNISDR; Chokri Ben Hassen, Secretary of State for Legal Affairs and Environment, Tunisia; Hazar Belli Abdel Kefi, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, Tunisia; Stern Mwakalimi Kita, Department of Disaster Management Affairs, Malawi; and Khaled Abu Aisheh, Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, Jordan Sujit Mohanty, UNISDR Chokri Ben Hassen, Secretary of State for Legal Affairs and Environment, Tunisia Hazar Belli Abdelkefi, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, Tunisia Stern Mwakalimi Kita, Department of Disaster Management Affairs, Malawi Jo Scheuer, Director for Climate Change and DRR, UNDP Khaled Abu Aisheh, Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, Jordan María Mercedes Martínez, María Mercedes Martínez, IFRC Participants listen to the discussion Working Session 3: The Role of Disaster Prevention, Preparedness, Early Warning, Response and Recovery in Achieving Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Development in Africa and Arab States L-R: Elizabeth Petheo, Miyamoto international; Donna Pierre, Climate Risks and Early Warning Systems (CREWS); Khaled Al-Mekarad, Kuwait Fire Service Directorate, Kuwait; Iyad Nasr, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA); and Hafsa Ahmed, Risk Manager, Sudan Habsa Ahmed, Risk Manager, Sudan Khaled Al-Mekarad, Kuwait Fire Service Directorate, Kuwait Iyad Nasr, UN OCHA Donna Pierre, CREWS Working Session 4: Climate and Disaster Risk: Engaging Communities for Inclusive Disaster Risk Management Tabi Joda, Global Non-state Actors DRR Network Wadid Erian Mansour, University of Cairo, Egypt Ibidun Adelekan, University of Ibadan, Nigeria Panelists pose for a photograph Nuha Eltinay, Arab Urban Development Institute (AUDI) Participants listen to the discussion Linking Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change Adaptation and Sustainable Development through the Human Security Approach Fadi Hamdan, DRMC Sheikh Saleh Habimana, Ambassador of Rwanda to Tunisia Nada El-aguizy, League of Arab States Nicholas Novelli, Yale University, US Nada El-aguizy, League of Arab States; Sheikh Saleh Habimana, Ambassador of Rwanda to Tunisia; Kirsi Madi, Director, UNISDR; Fadi Hamdan, DRMC; and Nicholas Novelli, Yale University, US Commemoration of the World Tsunami Awareness Day The panel during the session Hosam El-Sokkari, Media and Communication Consultant Omran Kamzari, Ministry of Environment & Climate Affairs, Oman and Gina Bonne, Indian Ocean Commission Denis Chang Seng, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, UNESCO Around the Venue