South African Climate Action Network

The Southern African Regional Climate Action Network (SARCAN) was established in August 2003 at a meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa. The network includes participating organisations from nine countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. SARCAN has identified adaptation to climate change as the key issue for the region, with a primary focus on water resources, and this will therefore form the core of the network future work. SARCAN was formally recognised by the global Climate Action Network at the 9th Conference of the Parties (COP 9) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Milan, Italy in December 2003.

The network aims to strengthen on-going work on climate change-related issues in the region and provide a vehicle for engaging with not only national governments, but also regional initiatives, including SADC offices in Gabarone, Botswana and programmes of action under The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).

SARCAN met for the third time in August 2004 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Here network members adopted a Constitution and elected a Board. The network also endorsed a fundraising proposal which will be used to seek funds for a programme of action which focuses on building adaptive capacity (reducing vulnerability to the impacts of climate change) particularly with regard to increasing stresses on water supplies and the implications for agriculture.

Constitution of the Southern African Regional Climate Action Network