• The main focus of this AGN meeting will be to review the outcome of COP-26.
• The AGN is a Group of Government representatives of the 54 African countries.
• Zambia is the current Chair of the Group.

Minister of Green Economy and Environment has disclosed that Zambian will host the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) on climate change.
In a statement, Collins Nzovu said the main focus of the African Group of Negotiators meeting which will be held in Livingstone from 14th to 17th March 2022, is to review the outcome of Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland in November 2021, and start identifying Africa’s priorities for the forthcoming Conference in Egypt, adding that the event is largely a closed-door session, especially the first two days.
Engineer Nzovu stated that the meeting will bring together experts from all 54 countries, organizations that partner with the AGN and other entities that work on climate change matters in Africa, including the African Union Commission (AUC), United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), among others.
“Zambia is the current Chair of the Group. Zambia assumed the chairmanship at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland in November 2021 for a two-year period and will lead the continental Group until 2023. It is important that Zambia excellently carries out the chairmanship mandate for the benefit of the continent and contribute to the positive outcome at the COP27 in Egypt, which has been dubbed: the African COP.”
“Therefore, the country has the responsibility to coordinate the Group and ensure that it is well prepared for all climate engagements, especially during the forthcoming 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt in November 2022,” Engineer Nzovu said.
He added that to ensure that Zambia effectively carries out its chairmanship mandate a team of local climate change experts has been put together to support the AGN chairperson, Ephraim Mwepya Shitima, who is also Director for the Department of Green Economy and Climate Change in the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment.
Engineer further said Government has also assembled a Local Organising Committee that is comprised of relevant Government Departments, representatives of civil society, and financial institutions, among others, to prepare for this meeting.
“The Committee has undertaken various steps, especially to ensure that the meeting is held in adherence to COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols. A dedicated Sub-Committee on health, chaired by the Ministry of Health, has undertaken inspections of the venue and other facilities in Livingstone to ensure that all precautionary measures are in place. The meeting is largely a closed-door session, especially the first two days. However, the official opening on Wednesday 16th March, 2022 will be open to the media and other invited guests.”
The AGN is a Group of Government representatives of the 54 African countries who spearhead the negotiations on climate change to ensure that the continent speaks with one voice during the negotiations.