Africa Group Negotiators (AGN) met in Paris, France on 29th and 30th March 2012 to discuss the outcomes of the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The workshop was convened by Mr Emmanuel Dlamini, chair of the Africa group, and was attended by 20 negotiators from 14 countries including Mr Pa Ousman Jarju, chair of the least developed countries (LDC) group, to help build links between the two groups. Other participants included key coordinators of the Africa group, representatives from the LDC group, the chair of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA), the chair of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention (AWG-LCA), the legal adviser to the Africa group and two former chairs of the Africa group. Discussions considered the Durban outcomes in terms of the legal implications, the Africa group perspective, political realities, the Kyoto Protocol and the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP). A background paper on 'Durban Outcomes: An Africa Group Perspective' was presented in draft format to be finalised taking into account the inputs of the seminar participants. The seminar provided a timely opportunity for participants to share their expertise and build relationships, and their feedback underscored its utility as a pertinent forum for learning and debate. It was organised with support from the Institute for Sustainable Development and international Relations (IDDRI).
Reid Hall, Paris, France