BAKU, Azerbaijan— The 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) ended in Baku with a contentious agreement on a new climate finance goal of $300 billion USD—an amount falling far short of the $1.3 trillion deemed necessary to support climate-vulnerable communities.
African leaders and climate activists have slammed the outcome, accusing wealthy nations of perpetuating “climate colonialism.”
Fred Njehu, a political strategist with Greenpeace Africa, delivered a scathing rebuke of the deal, calling it a betrayal of climate justice.
“This isn’t climate finance—it’s climate colonialism. While Africa grapples with wildfires, floods, and starvation caused by a crisis we didn’t create, the Global North offers pennies while profiting from fossil fuels,” he said.
Njehu decried the agreement as an affront to the “polluter pays” principle, saying it saddles African nations with the consequences of emissions primarily caused by industrialized countries.
“These hollow promises won’t rebuild communities destroyed by floods or feed those displaced by drought. But Africa’s spirit remains unbroken,” he added, vowing to carry demands for justice to COP30 in Belem, Brazil.
The agreement on Article 6, which introduces mechanisms for carbon markets, was also sharply criticized.
Dr. Lamfu Yengong, a forest campaigner with Greenpeace Africa, described it as a “neo-colonial scheme” that exploits Africa’s natural resources.
“Our forests and lands are being targeted as carbon dumps while polluters continue business as usual,” Yengong said, warning that these markets serve wealthy nations and corporations seeking to buy their way out of emissions cuts. “Africa’s forests are our life, not an offset opportunity for the Global North.”
The Congo Basin, often referred to as the “lungs of Africa,” remains a critical battleground.
Yengong emphasized that preserving the region requires genuine emissions reductions, not market-driven solutions that commodify natural heritage.
Jasper Inventor, head of Greenpeace’s COP29 delegation, echoed the sense of disappointment, labeling the finance goal “woefully inadequate” and pointing to fossil fuel interests as a major obstacle.
“Our true opponents are the fossil fuel merchants of despair and nature destroyers hiding behind every government’s low ambition,” he said.
As attention shifts to COP30 in Belem, activists are determined to hold leaders accountable.
“This is a fight for our future,” Inventor concluded. “People are disillusioned, but we will persist because hope must remain—hope anchored in the demand for real climate action.”
African leaders and climate activists have slammed the outcome, accusing wealthy nations of perpetuating “climate colonialism.”
Fred Njehu, a political strategist with Greenpeace Africa, delivered a scathing rebuke of the deal, calling it a betrayal of climate justice.
“This isn’t climate finance—it’s climate colonialism. While Africa grapples with wildfires, floods, and starvation caused by a crisis we didn’t create, the Global North offers pennies while profiting from fossil fuels,” he said.
Njehu decried the agreement as an affront to the “polluter pays” principle, saying it saddles African nations with the consequences of emissions primarily caused by industrialized countries.
“These hollow promises won’t rebuild communities destroyed by floods or feed those displaced by drought. But Africa’s spirit remains unbroken,” he added, vowing to carry demands for justice to COP30 in Belem, Brazil.
The agreement on Article 6, which introduces mechanisms for carbon markets, was also sharply criticized.
Dr. Lamfu Yengong, a forest campaigner with Greenpeace Africa, described it as a “neo-colonial scheme” that exploits Africa’s natural resources.
“Our forests and lands are being targeted as carbon dumps while polluters continue business as usual,” Yengong said, warning that these markets serve wealthy nations and corporations seeking to buy their way out of emissions cuts. “Africa’s forests are our life, not an offset opportunity for the Global North.”
The Congo Basin, often referred to as the “lungs of Africa,” remains a critical battleground.
Yengong emphasized that preserving the region requires genuine emissions reductions, not market-driven solutions that commodify natural heritage.
Jasper Inventor, head of Greenpeace’s COP29 delegation, echoed the sense of disappointment, labeling the finance goal “woefully inadequate” and pointing to fossil fuel interests as a major obstacle.
“Our true opponents are the fossil fuel merchants of despair and nature destroyers hiding behind every government’s low ambition,” he said.
As attention shifts to COP30 in Belem, activists are determined to hold leaders accountable.
“This is a fight for our future,” Inventor concluded. “People are disillusioned, but we will persist because hope must remain—hope anchored in the demand for real climate action.”
