The Democratic Republic of Congo joins the Climate & Clean Air Coalition by Climate & Clean Air Coalition secretariat - 15 June, 2017 Share SHARE Facebook share Twitter LinkedIn Copy URL Email Print Breadcrumb Home News and Announcements The Democratic Republic of Congo Joins The Climate & Clean Air Coalition The Coalition now has 115 partners The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the 53rd country to join the Climate and Clean Air Coalition. The Coalition now has 115 partners. In a letter to the Coalition, Athys Kabongo Kalongi, DRC’s Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development, said the DRC is working to deliver on its international environment commitments including “implementing its Montreal Protocol country program that aims at reducing and finally eliminating ozone depleting substances”. “The Democratic Republic of Congo is confronted with several challenges with regard to climate change and atmospheric pollution which are shared with several developing countries, particularly in Africa,” Minister Kabongo Kalongi said. “We would be delighted to share our experiences with regard to these and we look forward to collaborating with other partners of the CCAC to attain our common objective of SLCP mitigation.” Minister Kabongo Kalongi said that in regard to climate change, the DRC has put in place a national policy to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (or REDD+), and submitted its national determined contribution (NDC) to the UNFCCC. The DRC is also running climate adaptation projects like strengthening the resilience of Muanda communities to coastal erosion. They are also strengthening adaptation capacities and management to reduce the impacts of climate change on agricultural production and food security. CCAC Co-chair, Kenya’s Environment Secretary Dr Alice Akinyi Kaudia, welcomed the Democratic Republic of Congo into the Coalition saying she looked forward to their contributions to reducing short lived climate pollutants and improving air quality. “Reducing short-lived climate pollutants will not only improve air quality and the health of citizens, but it also has the added benefits of helping the Democratic Republic of Congo achieve its international commitments to climate change and the global Sustainable Development Goals,” Dr Akinyi Kaudia said. “By working together we can rapidly reduce short-term climate warming and achieve these additional benefits for the wellbeing of all.” The Climate and Clean Air Coalition is a voluntary global partnership of 53 countries, 17 intergovernmental organizations, and 45 businesses, scientific institutions and civil society organizations committed to catalyzing concrete, substantial action to reduce Short Lived Climate Pollutants (including methane, black carbon and many hydrofluorocarbons). The Coalition has 11 initiatives working to raise awareness, mobilize resources and lead transformative actions in key sectors. Reducing short-lived climate pollutants can provide benefits to health, development, and the environment. These actions must go hand in hand with deep and persistent cuts to carbon dioxide and other long-lived greenhouse gases if we are to achieve the goal of the Paris Agreement and keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Tags Themes National policy and planning Waste Related partners Congo, Democratic Republic of