EU and Tanzania Reinforce Partnership for Effective Climate Action

Yesterday, on the occasion of the European Climate Diplomacy Week (12-18 September), the Delegation of the European Union, the Embassy of France and the Embassy of Germany hosted a public screening of the award-winning documentary at the Goethe-Institut.

The Minister of State, Vice President's Office, Union and Environment, Hon. January Makamba, took part in the event together with the French Ambassador, H.E Mrs Malika Berak, the German Chargé d'Affaires, Mr John Reyels and the EU Chargé d'Affaires, Ms Luana Reale.

This was the premiere in Africa of Demain/Tomorrow, by Cyril Dion and Mélanie Laurent, winner of the César award of Best Documentary Film in 2016.

This globetrotting documentary focuses on the people who are promoting new initiatives and innovative approaches in areas such as agriculture, energy, habitat, economy, education, democracy.

A high-level panel, including Hon. Minister Makamba, Tajiel Urioh, Climate and Environmental Activist, Dennis Mwendwa, from the Oil, Natural Gas and Environmental Alliance (ONGEA), and Dr. Adolphine Kateka from the Centre for Climate Change, University of Dar es Salaam, discussed on areas prompted by the French Head of Cooperation, Mr Phillip Boncour, who moderated the discussions, and questions raised by the audience.

Hon. Minister Makamba said in reference to climate diplomacy, "Climate diplomacy has given us a once in a lifetime opportunity to save our human family and its habitat. Here in Tanzania, most of our key growth sectors are climate- sensitive. The Tanzanian government is determined to pursue its development path responsibly and sustainably".

Ambassador Berak in opening the event said: "Climate change is indeed an issue facing all of us. But there are also solutions: simple, human scale solutions, innovative industrial solutions, solutions to be invented by cities and local governments, partnership and network solutions…"The film you are going to see tonight for its Première on the African continent is precisely about solutions and the people who implement them all around the globe.. "Demain" is a positive movie, a movie which demonstrates that joint efforts can open nearly every single door, a movie which believes in human beings and their capacity to change the trajectories put in place by other human beings time after time."

On his part Mr Reyels recalled that: "At the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) in Paris the whole global community pledged to curb climate change. Emerging and developing economies like Tanzania play a vital part in pursuing this global transformation. Germany is partnering with the government of Tanzania in the field of climate adaptation, e.g. to access international climate financing from the Green Climate Fund."

Ms Reale, in her concluding remarks, stressed the importance of international cooperation to fight climate change: "The European Union has spearheaded global efforts and we are well on track to meet our target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020. The Paris Agreement is a global response to a global problem; as our panel has clearly shown, we all have a role to play, be it small or large. All actions count.

Minister said that Tanzania is well on its way in preparing its ratification document of the Paris Agreement. The EU and all its Member States are also working to join the Agreement. We are proud, as members of the global community, to see that China and the United States of America have joined on 3 September."