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While COP 27 is being held from November 6 to 18 in Sharm-el-Sheikh (Egypt), Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu (negotiator from the Democratic Republic of Congo) is the Grand Guest of the Economy RFI / Jeune Afrique. This economist by training, son of press boss and businessman Raphaël Mpanu-Mpanu, worked for the World Bank and then for Congolese ministerial offices before getting involved in climate issues.
First within the group of African negotiators, then as an administrator at the UN Green Climate Fund and today at the head of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice. This international body is responsible for providing information and advice related to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement of 2015. During COP 27, the one who is also adviser to the Ministry of Hydrocarbons has the mission to defend the interests of his immense country affected by poverty and armed conflicts, but also rich in natural resources: oil, gas, mining deposits, forests, etc.
At the microphone of Bruno Faure (RFI) and Julien Clémençot (Jeune Afrique), Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu answers all the crucial questions in this world threatened by rising temperatures. The African continent is the least responsible, but the most vulnerable. In turn, our guest takes stock of international climate action, addresses the essential issue of financing mitigation and adaptation, the debate around oil exploitation in the Congo Basin and its peat bogs, deforestation, the importance of agriculture, the mining sector, and the involvement of youth in the fight for the environment.
Our other speakers:
– Patient Rock is the Forestry Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa. He reacts to the launch by the Congolese government.
RFI: In your opinion, what danger does the sale of oil and gas blocks in the Congo Basin represent?
Patient Muamba : Selling the oil and gas block is a danger in view of the consequences that will occur during this exploitation. You know that most of these blocks are located in the forest and in the bogs and even in protected areas. There will be consequences for local communities who live and depend on forests. Exploiting oil in a place where there are not enough hospitals and basic infrastructures clearly constitutes a danger for these communities. There will also be consequences for biodiversity, for all species of flora and fauna. And also more general consequences for the climate, with the CO2 reserves contained in these areas. We believe that the attitude of the Congolese government is motivated by financial reasons. It is a downright ecocidal attitude that has no interest in the well-being of communities. This will create a lot of uncontrollable situations.
Why do you say the process was rushed?
We say this process was rushed because when it started, the council of ministers just validated 16 oil blocks. But curiously, you saw that when the calls for tenders were launched, we went to 27 oil and 3 gas blocks without having the decision of the Council of Ministers. You understand that this already makes the other oil blocks almost illegal and that this will surely have consequences for all those who will have to buy these blocks. They will have to obey the law. Afterwards, the minister (of hydrocarbons) promised that the government would sign the first production sharing contract before the end of October, which is impossible given all the stages that this process must follow. This is something that is worrying and that leads us to say that there is something wrong with this process. This is why Greenpeace continues to insist on the cancellation of this project, in view of the environmental, social and even biodiversity consequences.
– Saadio Momegni Joachim, a student-engineer in renewable energies in Maroua (Cameroon), invented a mobile kit for the production of biogas and biofertilizers designed to limit the cutting of wood, a source of environmental destruction. He has just won the 1st prize in the “60 seconds to convince” competition dedicated to young French-speaking entrepreneurs organized by theFrancophonie University Agency (ON).
RFI: How did you feel when you received this award?
Saadio Momegni Joachim : It was a sigh of relief. I said to myself that the efforts I had made over the years to build this project, which had finally become a reality, were beginning to be valued. For me, it’s the beginning of a long road, a long journey.
Explain to us the principle of your project.
This is a mobile kit for the production of biogas and biofertilizers. We recycle local material to produce this system that we make available to the population. In turn, instead of cutting down trees for cooking, households will just recycle the waste they produce themselves or through activities such as small livestock. We recycle our waste that we mix with water to put in this system and it produces gas for the kitchen. At the end of production, we still recycle the waste to produce biofertilizers or fertilizers that we will use in agriculture to produce organic food and eat organic food, as is currently recommended from a health point of view.
And it is also a useful project in view of the current problems of energy supply.
Yes, the gas problem is very topical, whether in developed or underdeveloped countries. In underdeveloped countries, ruptures are daily occurrences. Our project is very ecological. It responds precisely to this need that the population has expressed: the lack of sources of cooking energy. We want to empower every family, so that everyone can produce their own energy for cooking. We remain open to the whole world, to major investors and to those who express love for this environment that is close to our hearts. Today we see great droughts here and great floods here and there. All of us through our daily actions impact the environment in one way or another. By promoting this or that project, we protect this environment which is dear to us for current generations as well as future generations.