BAKU, Azerbaijan – As COP29 discussions continue in Baku, Greenpeace Africa has vehemently opposed the push for unreliable market-based mechanisms to solve the climate crisis, warning that they undermine real climate action to address the growing crisis facing African communities.
According to Fred Njehu, Pan-African Political Strategist for Greenpeace Africa, carbon markets perpetuate a dangerous form of carbon colonialism in Africa.
“We’ve witnessed widespread resource exploitation and land grabs across the continent, where local communities and Indigenous people are displaced by offset projects that primarily benefit corporations from the Global North,” said Njehu.
Why polluters should pay for the damage they have caused
Njehu observed that this system allows wealthy nations to continue polluting while outsourcing their climate responsibilities to Africa, effectively turning lands into carbon dumps while failing to address the root causes of the climate crisis.
“Instead of these flawed market mechanisms, we propose making polluters pay for the damage they have caused through the Climate Damages Tax. We also propose that the New Quantified Goal on Climate Finance includes issues of adaptation, loss and damage that are a priority to the African continent,” Njehu added.
Njehu further said investing in renewable energy, enhancing climate adaptation and resilience, and supporting community-led conservation efforts are more effective and equitable solutions.
“These approaches not only reduce GHG emissions at the source but also empower local communities to lead in the fight against climate change,” he added.
What is Kenya’s role at the ongoing COP29 conference
Murtala Touray, Program Director at Greenpeace Africa, also responded to recent comments that Fossil Fuels were a gift from God:
“Our planet is the greatest gift from God. Currently, our planet is in a crisis that requires global efforts. Countries looking inward to protect national interests will only aggravate the crisis, leading to increasingly devastating consequences.”
Meanwhile, as Y News reported previously, Kenya is representing Africa’s interests at the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, more commonly known as COP29, in her capacity as Chair of the African Group of Negotiators (AGN).
Securing climate money, expanding adaptation initiatives, and finalising carbon market regulations are the main priorities during the ongoing event, which will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11 to November 22, 2024.
Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Aden Duale stressed how critical it is to replace the antiquated $100 billion (Sh 12.8 trillion) target for climate finance with a new global aim.
