NAIROBI, Kenya – As the countdown to COP 29 begins, African nations are uniting to demand an overhaul of global climate finance.
Led by Kenya’s Special Envoy on Climate Change, Ali Mohamed, the Africa Group of Negotiators has identified key priorities, pushing for the adoption of a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on Climate Finance.
This new goal aims for a quantum of $1.3 trillion, underscoring the urgent need for public grants to support the continent’s climate action efforts.
During a recent three-day consultative meeting at the Windsor Hotel, Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Gertrude Angote, speaking on behalf of Ali Mohamed, emphasized Africa’s disproportionate burden in the face of climate change.
“Africa is the least responsible for climate change, yet it continues to bear some of the most severe weather events,” Angote stated.
The meeting, attended by African Union member states, outlined Africa’s demands for the upcoming climate negotiations, scheduled from November 11 to 22 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
A central theme was the urgent need to address the underrepresentation of the intersection of climate change, peace, and security in formal negotiations.
“This gap needs to be addressed to ensure that climate change receives the attention it deserves,” Angote stressed.
The NCQG is envisioned as a new global climate finance target, building on the current $100 billion per year commitment before 2025.
This target is seen as critical to bolstering global efforts to combat climate change, focusing on meaningful mitigation actions, transparency in implementation, and addressing the specific needs of developing countries.
Angote also emphasized the far-reaching impacts of climate change on Africa’s socio-economic stability, pointing out that extreme weather events have exacerbated existing vulnerabilities, leading to resource conflicts, displacement, and strained social cohesion.
“Climate change has undermined peace and stability, and the continent will be calling for the operationalization of the global goals on adaptation,” she said.
In addition to climate finance, Africa will be advocating for the full operationalization of the loss and damage fund with sufficient resources to respond to the adverse impacts of climate change.
The demand for enhanced mitigation ambitions was also highlighted, with Angote calling on developed countries to lead the way in reducing emissions.
Parfait Anyanga, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Office to the African Union, pointed to the stark inequalities that exist in global climate policy.
He noted that adhering to the 1.5°C global warming target under the Paris Agreement would require keeping significant fossil fuel reserves untouched.
“Applying this to Africa would leave a potential $6.7 trillion of fossil fuels locked on the continent,” Anyanga said.
Anyanga further highlighted that achieving a net-zero energy mix by 2050 would cost Africa an estimated $2.8 trillion.
“In short, Africa is being asked to forgo $6.7 trillion, in addition to paying $2.8 trillion, while bracing for the shocks induced by climate change,” he stated. “Meanwhile, major emitters continue their business-as-usual approach, with far-reaching negative implications disproportionately affecting African countries.”
Led by Kenya’s Special Envoy on Climate Change, Ali Mohamed, the Africa Group of Negotiators has identified key priorities, pushing for the adoption of a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on Climate Finance.
This new goal aims for a quantum of $1.3 trillion, underscoring the urgent need for public grants to support the continent’s climate action efforts.
During a recent three-day consultative meeting at the Windsor Hotel, Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Gertrude Angote, speaking on behalf of Ali Mohamed, emphasized Africa’s disproportionate burden in the face of climate change.
“Africa is the least responsible for climate change, yet it continues to bear some of the most severe weather events,” Angote stated.
The meeting, attended by African Union member states, outlined Africa’s demands for the upcoming climate negotiations, scheduled from November 11 to 22 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
A central theme was the urgent need to address the underrepresentation of the intersection of climate change, peace, and security in formal negotiations.
“This gap needs to be addressed to ensure that climate change receives the attention it deserves,” Angote stressed.
The NCQG is envisioned as a new global climate finance target, building on the current $100 billion per year commitment before 2025.
This target is seen as critical to bolstering global efforts to combat climate change, focusing on meaningful mitigation actions, transparency in implementation, and addressing the specific needs of developing countries.
Angote also emphasized the far-reaching impacts of climate change on Africa’s socio-economic stability, pointing out that extreme weather events have exacerbated existing vulnerabilities, leading to resource conflicts, displacement, and strained social cohesion.
“Climate change has undermined peace and stability, and the continent will be calling for the operationalization of the global goals on adaptation,” she said.
In addition to climate finance, Africa will be advocating for the full operationalization of the loss and damage fund with sufficient resources to respond to the adverse impacts of climate change.
The demand for enhanced mitigation ambitions was also highlighted, with Angote calling on developed countries to lead the way in reducing emissions.
Parfait Anyanga, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Office to the African Union, pointed to the stark inequalities that exist in global climate policy.
He noted that adhering to the 1.5°C global warming target under the Paris Agreement would require keeping significant fossil fuel reserves untouched.
“Applying this to Africa would leave a potential $6.7 trillion of fossil fuels locked on the continent,” Anyanga said.
Anyanga further highlighted that achieving a net-zero energy mix by 2050 would cost Africa an estimated $2.8 trillion.
“In short, Africa is being asked to forgo $6.7 trillion, in addition to paying $2.8 trillion, while bracing for the shocks induced by climate change,” he stated. “Meanwhile, major emitters continue their business-as-usual approach, with far-reaching negative implications disproportionately affecting African countries.”
