BAKU, Azerbaijan – As COP29 kicks off in Baku, Greenpeace Africa is making a strong appeal to global leaders for immediate and increased climate finance for African nations, which are disproportionately affected by the climate crisis.
The organization highlights the inequity between the fossil fuel industry’s profits and the insufficient climate finance received by developing countries, urging the establishment of a Climate Damages Tax on major polluters to fund reparations for climate-induced losses.
Greenpeace Africa’s Program Director, Murtala Touray, underscored the urgency facing the continent.
“Africa stands at a critical crossroads,” Touray stated, emphasizing that an ambitious New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for climate finance is essential to address the scale of Africa’s climate challenges.
He pointed to the severe droughts and floods that have devastated regions from the Horn of Africa to West and Southern Africa, exacerbating food insecurity and displacing communities.
“Without a scaled-up climate finance that is fit for purpose, most African countries will be unable to deliver on their NDCs,” he warned.
Despite contributing minimally to global emissions, Africa is on track to suffer substantial economic losses due to climate change, which could cost the continent up to 15% of its GDP by 2030.
Additionally, while Africa has 40% of the world’s solar potential, it receives only 2% of global renewable energy investments—a disparity Greenpeace Africa says needs to be urgently addressed.
Fred Njehu, Pan African Political Strategist at Greenpeace Africa, argued that Africa’s vast renewable resources could position the continent as a global leader in the energy transition.
However, he warned that this potential is being undermined by continued fossil fuel exploitation and insufficient climate funding.
“We refuse to let COP29 become another platform for empty promises,” Njehu said, calling for clear plans aligned with the 1.5°C global temperature goal and demanding that the NCQG focus on financing African countries’ adaptation and mitigation needs.
Greenpeace Africa’s COP29 priorities include: establishing a Climate Damages Tax on fossil fuel corporations to finance reparations for climate-related damages, increasing public climate finance to support African nations’ adaptation and mitigation efforts, making definitive commitments to phase out fossil fuels swiftly and equitably, enforcing safeguards against carbon offsets that threaten Africa’s carbon-dense ecosystems, and prioritizing African voices, particularly youth activists, indigenous communities, and civil society organizations, in decision-making on climate action.
As the talks in Baku unfold, Greenpeace Africa’s leaders stressed the importance of moving beyond mere pledges.
“It’s time for fossil fuel companies and wealthy nations to pay their fair share,” Touray stated, urging COP29 participants to deliver a finance framework that meets the scale of the climate crisis while empowering African nations to realize their potential in renewable energy.
The organization highlights the inequity between the fossil fuel industry’s profits and the insufficient climate finance received by developing countries, urging the establishment of a Climate Damages Tax on major polluters to fund reparations for climate-induced losses.
Greenpeace Africa’s Program Director, Murtala Touray, underscored the urgency facing the continent.
“Africa stands at a critical crossroads,” Touray stated, emphasizing that an ambitious New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for climate finance is essential to address the scale of Africa’s climate challenges.
He pointed to the severe droughts and floods that have devastated regions from the Horn of Africa to West and Southern Africa, exacerbating food insecurity and displacing communities.
“Without a scaled-up climate finance that is fit for purpose, most African countries will be unable to deliver on their NDCs,” he warned.
Despite contributing minimally to global emissions, Africa is on track to suffer substantial economic losses due to climate change, which could cost the continent up to 15% of its GDP by 2030.
Additionally, while Africa has 40% of the world’s solar potential, it receives only 2% of global renewable energy investments—a disparity Greenpeace Africa says needs to be urgently addressed.
Fred Njehu, Pan African Political Strategist at Greenpeace Africa, argued that Africa’s vast renewable resources could position the continent as a global leader in the energy transition.
However, he warned that this potential is being undermined by continued fossil fuel exploitation and insufficient climate funding.
“We refuse to let COP29 become another platform for empty promises,” Njehu said, calling for clear plans aligned with the 1.5°C global temperature goal and demanding that the NCQG focus on financing African countries’ adaptation and mitigation needs.
Greenpeace Africa’s COP29 priorities include: establishing a Climate Damages Tax on fossil fuel corporations to finance reparations for climate-related damages, increasing public climate finance to support African nations’ adaptation and mitigation efforts, making definitive commitments to phase out fossil fuels swiftly and equitably, enforcing safeguards against carbon offsets that threaten Africa’s carbon-dense ecosystems, and prioritizing African voices, particularly youth activists, indigenous communities, and civil society organizations, in decision-making on climate action.
As the talks in Baku unfold, Greenpeace Africa’s leaders stressed the importance of moving beyond mere pledges.
“It’s time for fossil fuel companies and wealthy nations to pay their fair share,” Touray stated, urging COP29 participants to deliver a finance framework that meets the scale of the climate crisis while empowering African nations to realize their potential in renewable energy.
