Nearly one year after the watershed COP21 Climate Summit in
Paris, governments have once again convened in Marrakech, Morocco for COP22 to
move forward with the Paris Agreement and take stock of their collective
efforts to curb dangerous climate change.
IFAD is here at COP22, making the case for investing in
smallholder farmers, both to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),
particularly reaching zero hunger by 2030 (SDG2) and ensuring that smallholders
are adequately supported so they can afford to adapt to changing climate
patterns that will continue to impact on global food production.
"The rapid entry
into force of the Paris Agreement is unprecedented and sends a powerful signal
of the world’s commitment to combatting climate change,” said COP21 President
Segolene Royal as she opened COP22.
COP22 President Salaheddine welcomed everyone to the Red
City, commenting how his country has spared no effort to provide the best
possible conditions for this global event to ensure its success.
He said that holding the COP on African soil shows the
continents commitment to reinforcing resilient ecosystems. He stressed that
this effort would involve everyone and all countries, as, "the sun does
not ignore a village just because it is small"" and all are affected
by the blight of climate change.
"Let us make no mistake as to what is at stake here,’’
continued Salaheddine,"I call on you to be more ambitious during this
conference on our commitments, working together to finalise the support mechanisms
and expertise at every level from local to transboundary projects. This must be
done through win-win partnerships. At stake now is not only climate change but
civilisation and economic development. We must now promote sustainable
development models which are innovatory and can transform the world, including
the south."
UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa said that this is
the second COP in the shadow of the mighty Atlas Mountains. The city where the
Marrakech accords were founded, and that just days ago, the Paris Agreement
came into action here uniting parties
and stakeholders.
"We have embarked to change the course of two centuries
of carbon emissions,’’ Espinosasaid. , "Marrakech is our moment to take
forward climate action at both the international and national levels. Our work
is far from done. Together we can
deliver the promise of Paris to billions of people on this planet, both today
and for tomorrow.’’
Hoesung Lee talked of how COP22 is to be the COP of action.
There was an upbeat atmosphere as the Mayor of Marrakech
closed the opening ceremony, again welcoming everyone and calling for ambitious
negotiations and for everyone to build on last year’s successful talks. The
ceremony closed with a special performance by a local traditional Moroccan
drumming group, “Ostina Tono,”, which drew great applause and cheers as the
COP22 officially kicked off.