Cameroon was one of the 195 countries expected at the 21st Paris Conference for Climate Change organized on the 30^th of November 2015 which was represented by their Head of State, President Paul Biya.  This conference aims at the completion of a new international climate agreement, applicable to all countries, with the aim of keeping global warming below 2 ?C. Cameroon, like many developing countries, is faced with a dilemma: it needs to transform its economy rapidly in line with its ambitions of becoming an emerging nation by the target date of 2035 yet it must do so now in a low carbon emission regime in order to fulfil its global responsibility. The detailed plan it has presented to COP21 shows that this balancing act is possible, and necessary, but the country cannot do it alone it will need considerable international cooperation and financial support.

Cameroon was more determined than ever to work towards transforming its economy and become a member of the emerging nations?club by 2035. The ultimate objective is not only to raise the living standards of its citizens but also to prevent the vicious downward cycle of poverty and underdevelopment which includes social instability and other security threats. The country has drawn up a 20-year, economic transformation strategy which it believes will deliver the desired overall objective by 2035.The road map consists of: a green revolution which will focus on raising the productivity of land and labour industrialisation which will aim to double the contribution of the manufacturing and other secondary sectors from 19% to 38% of GDP consolidation of the democratic process fostering a spirit of national unity and sense of belonging. The end result of implementing this strategy will be a substantial reduction in poverty, the creation of new and sustainable jobs, particularly in industry and services, diversified output including exports, less dependence on oil and gas revenues and an expansion of trade within and outside the region. An added imperative will be to achieve the target by the due date through ecologically and environmentally sustainable methods and respecting the human and natural diversity of the country. Currently, Cameroon produces very low levels of greenhouse gases and is a negligible contributor to global emissions. But how does one achieve these ambitious development goals in a green way, given that Cameroon is feeling the impact of climate change and paying the price of addressing it? The Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) ?these are the individual commitments submitted by the Parties, or member countries, to COP21 ?prepared by the Cameroonian government included a pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 32%, a third of the current level in relative terms. The plan aims to reduce the carbon footprint of Cameroon? development process without affecting growth, and rests on five pillars: agriculture (which remains the main driver of economic growth), forestry, energy and waste management, construction and transport. The success of this plan will depend on aggregation of material and human resources by the international community to help the nation in its efforts to protect the climate without jeopardising its battle to overcome under-development. Under the initial transformational plan, which was also based on the assumption that the agricultural sector would experience rapid growth, Cameroon would have seen its greenhouse gas emissions triple by 2035 ?compared to the reference year of 2010.

So how will the new ?ow-carbon?development strategy, and its 32% target, be achieved? It will be actioned by limiting deforestation and land degradation. This will be done through better planning and a more effective utilisation of rural areas in order to develop agricultural activity in a much more productive way. This will require substantial improvements in governance of the sector which, among other adjustments, will require a devolution of power to local communities.

Upgrading basic infrastructure, such as roads, will improve logistics and the transportation of agricultural livestock and fishery products ?reducing wastage. The centrepiece of Cameroon? economic transformation strategy remains the Green Revolution. This calls for an environmentally-friendly intensification of agricultural, livestock and fish production. The cost of the programme (2014-2020) is estimated at around $25bn. It will be implemented around a number of key areas. For example, it will entail the promotion of high-yield, short-cycle species enabling fast crop rotation and the use of enhanced, high-yield seed varieties that are resistant to adverse environmental conditions (excluding GMOs and hybrids).

Better ?esource management?will also lead to productivity gains. We are seeing it in the promotion of best practices in increasing agricultural output whilst making the optimal use of environmental resources. Again, there are numerous practices that can be adopted, such as the production of energy using agricultural waste the use of agricultural waste to produce food supplements for animal and fish feed as well as other products (silage etc.) and the use of improved manure-storage facilities based on composting and a host of other measures

In summary, the objective is for a sustainable form of agriculture which is more resilient to climate change, which, in addition to increased productivity and growth through improved competitiveness, will also create jobs and ensure a better quality of life, especially for those living in rural areas. These measures and new practices will also serve to limit deforestation and the degradation of forest cover. And this sustainable forest management will enable the country to increase the number of carbon sinks, which will counterbalance any increase in emissions elsewhere.  This low-carbon growth will also bring about major collateral benefits ?economic and social development. Increased productivity will lead to job creation and environmental and health-related improvements will also impact on local communities and their prospects.

This Conference was for Cameroon to prove its involvement in the fight against Climate Change and to take an active part in saving the Planet. Our President said a speech describing the role and efforts made by the country to fight against the spread of this dangerous environmental issue. As many don? know Cameroon is a half a sahelian zone and forest zone making it what they call ?frica in Miniature? Cameroon engulfs all the environmental characteristics of most African nations which is not something to neglect.