Tanzania’s Vice-President Philip Mpango inaugurated a significant UN-sanctioned forum aimed at accelerating intergovernmental efforts to tackle climate change.
The event, held at the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC), marks the 24th Forum and the 35th Meeting of the Permanent Financial Committee of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
This five-day meeting is a landmark event for Tanzania, being the first time the country has hosted such a significant gathering. It brings together 200 participants from over 80 countries, all converging to discuss and strategize on climate action.
The forum serves as a preparatory session for the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29), scheduled for November in Baku, Azerbaijan.
According to a statement from the vice-president’s office, Tanzania was selected to host the meeting following a request by President Samia Suluhu Hassan to the UNFCCC.
This selection underscores Tanzania’s commitment to enhancing access to climate financing and addressing critical issues related to funding for climate action.
The forum is themed “Increasing Speed in Dealing with Climate Change through Gender Responsive Financing.”
It will focus on developing strategies to improve funding mechanisms for climate change initiatives, ensuring that gender considerations are integrated into financial planning and implementation.
The Permanent Financial Committee, established during the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16), comprises 32 members from both developing and developed nations.
Its primary role is to facilitate access to funding for climate initiatives, ensuring that resources are available to support global climate action.
Founded in 1992, the UNFCCC brings together signatory nations to work collaboratively in stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations to prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system.
The Conference of the Parties (COP) has met nearly annually since its inception, continually advancing the global climate agenda.