The signing ceremony was held at Halahin Eco Lodge in Kartong, West Coast Region.
In an effort to put long-term goals of the Paris Agreement into practice, countries are invited to formulate and communicate “long-term, low greenhouse gas emission development strategies” (LT-LEDS), also referred to as Long Term Strategies (LTS). These are visionary plans for achieving low-carbon, climate-resilient societies out to 2050.
As part of the process in the development and implementation of the LTS, AIUWA was identified to be the focal point for building and strengthening long-term capacity building in the country, transferring knowledge on the foundations of the LTS, modeling outputs, monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the LTS, among others.
Momodou Mbye Jabang, permanent secretary of MECCNAR said it is crucial that academia, policy makers and think-tank institutions join forces in the path towards tackling the emerging effects of climate change.
He highlighted that climate change presents global challenges and risks to environment and economies, impacting human health, increasing extreme weather events, threatening natural resources and triggering forced migration on population.
PS Jabang stated that international efforts are necessary to ensure protection of humankind on our planet and to limit the increasing global temperatures, adding that in order to achieve the 2050 target, measurable progress must be made in the near term to establish a projector of reduction needed mid-term targets including commitments to 2030.
In her remarks delivered virtually, Anna Schulz, Ph.D., Head of the Global Climate Law Policy and Governance Programme, Climate Change of IIED congratulated MECCNAR and partners on the signing of the MOU.
She pointed out that The Gambia has made great strides towards an ambitious Long-Term Strategy - adopting a strong vision for a net-zero LTS by 2050.
Ms. Schulz stated “A critical part of the LTS process is ensuring that the vision and LTS remain living documents that can guide The Gambia towards a low-carbon climate resilient future through the development of an in country legacy partner to carry forward work on the LTS and champion its messages after the work on the initial LTS is done.”
She expressed IIED’s commitment to continue working with The Gambia’s LTS team, partners and AIUWA the legacy partner throughout the LTS process, and also thanked the European Climate Foundation and 2050 Pathways Platform for funding this phase of the elaboration of The Gambia’s LTS.
Professor Makie Taal, vice chancellor of AIUWA said they will collaborate in eight areas including capacity building on data collection on climate change, technical cooperation and capacity building to strengthen greenhouse inventory and reporting programs and direct research studies on environmental and climate change issues.
On behalf of AIUWA, Professor Taal expressed their resolve to deliver on the expectations of the MOU.
Juldeh Ceesay, Deputy Permanent Secretary Projects of MOFEA said the collaboration if successful, could address a number of bottlenecks in responding to climate issues, such as capacity and data gaps and monitoring and evaluation challenges, amongst others.
She highlighted that investment in economic development and growth must be combined with investment in climate change mitigation and adaptation, and in that regard, her ministry would pursue a green economic recovery in the forthcoming five-year National Development Plan, that will serve as the country’s next medium term development strategy.
The event was chaired by Ebrima Jawara, Deputy Permanent Secretary Finance and Administration of MECCNAR and LTS National Coordinator and attendees included the Deputy Director of the Development Planning Directorate at MOFEA, staff of MECCNAR’s Climate Change Secretariat, representatives of a consulting firm appointed to lead the development of Gambia’s LTS and members of the media.
