ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast – Kenya will represent 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 will be the main priorities during the event, 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.
“Africa is calling for $1.3 trillion (Sh 184.6 trillion) per year by 2030, primarily through grants and concessional loans, to avoid worsening the debt situation in developing countries,” Duale remarked during the 10th Special Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) held in Ivory Coast capital, Abidjan.
Africa is also a proponent of changes to the global financial institutions to assist weaker countries better.
Increasing finance for adaptation is a primary concern, particularly for industries like infrastructure, health, and agriculture, where the current spending levels are considerably below the estimated $400 billion (Sh 51.5 trillion) needed yearly.
Duale also emphasised the significance of securing long-term funding for the Loss and Damage Fund, which has already gotten $700 million (Sh 98 billion) in commitments but desperately needs long-term fixes.
Why there will be additional badges for Global South at COP29
Africa is also contesting the choice to locate the Santiago Network Secretariat in Geneva, arguing that Nairobi would be a more sensible and economical choice.
Meanwhile, Simon Stiell, the executive secretary of the UNFCCC, declared that extra COP29 observer badges would be distributed to global south organisations.
“We’ve also taken steps this year to boost the proportion of observer organisations at COP from the global south, following the guidance from Parties at the June Meetings this year,” stated Stiell in his statement at the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN).
The head of the Nairobi-based research group Power Shift Africa, Mohamed Adow, stated:
“For far too long, most participants in the COP summits have been from the global north. It illustrates how individuals and groups with headquarters in the nations that created the climate catastrophe have wielded excessive influence in the climate talks.”
According to Adow, the distribution of observer badges is becoming more equitable.
“It is only fair that attendees at the conference intended to address their needs be allowed to come from the nation’s most at risk from the climate issue,” Adow said.
According to Power Shift Africa’s study, half of the COP28 badges were awarded to members of the Western European and Other States (WEOG) group, which consists of the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland, despite those countries only representing 12 pc of the global population.
What are the other issues Kenya will be advocating at COP29
Adow reiterated that people in poor nations bear a disproportionate amount of the consequences of the climate problem despite making up only a small portion of the emissions that cause it.
“However, for far too long, those with disproportionately high emissions from a small fraction of the planet have held the majority of COP badges. It is only fitting that this imbalance is being fixed right now,” Adow remarked.
Additionally, Stiell stated in his address that the “single greatest economic opportunity of this century” is climate action, adding that “the opportunity is immense.”
However, the costs of unregulated global warming are also borne by African countries.
Adow stated: “Hearing Simon Stiell outline the enormous opportunity presented by addressing the plague of climate change, shifting the globe to clean energy and lifting millions of climate-vulnerable people out of poverty.”
Meanwhile, Kenya is advocating for rich nations to increase their targets for reducing emissions and to provide developing countries with more assistance in reaching their climate goals.
Furthermore, Duale emphasised the necessity of addressing Africa’s particular conditions while addressing climate change—a problem that has encountered opposition ever since the Paris Agreement.
At the forthcoming UN General Assembly, the AGN will advocate for active engagement and participation in the talks and negotiations of COP29, representing Africa’s united stance.
