Signature Topic - Africa and the Challenge of Climate Change

The African Society of International Law (AfSIL) is pleased to announce that the 11th Annual Conference of the Society will take place on 28-29 October 2022, in Cairo, Egypt on the theme: Africa and the Challenge of Climate Change. Taking place a week before the onset of the UN Climate Change Conference COP 27 in Egypt, the Conference will be a unique opportunity to explore the climate change crisis through the lens of international law.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (“IPCC”), Africa is among those that have contributed the least to greenhouse gas emissions, yet key development sectors have already experienced widespread losses and damages attributable to climate change, including biodiversity loss, water shortages, reduced food production, loss of lives and reduced economic growth. Despite these challenges, UNDP experts say Africa has the potential to move the world toward a secure climate-resilient future since it has the youngest population, the largest amount of arable land and the greatest potential for restoration. Indeed, important efforts at developing renewable energy and restoring lands and ecosystems are underway on the continent. Both the impacts and the solutions related to climate change touch upon virtually every aspect of international law.

The Conference aims to bring together prominent academics, policymakers, practitioners, and experts to explore the issue of climate change as it relates to various fields of international law with the goal of understanding both the magnitude of the challenges and the opportunities we must seize before it is too late.