The 28th edition of the Conference of the Parties (COP), the paramount climate summit, commenced in the United Arab Emirates on November 30, drawing attention to Africa’s confronting some of the most severe consequences of a warming world.
Across the Horn of Africa, previously stricken by drought earlier this year, communities are now confronting the challenges posed by flooding.
Stretching from Somalia to Kenya, the region grapples with the impact of extreme weather, resulting in significant displacement.
This year, Cyclone Freddy, the longest-lasting tropical storm, struck Southern Africa, tragically claiming the lives of over 1,000 people.
During these challenging times, the African Group of Negotiators (AGN), currently under the leadership of Zambia, will represent the continent’s voice at the COP28 discussions in Dubai.
Despite contributing less than 5 percent of global emissions, Africa bears a disproportionate burden of the adverse impacts of climate change.
For African nations, addressing these climate effects is not just an imperative; it’s a critical matter of survival.
In Dubai, Africa is advocating for key priorities outlined by chief negotiator Ephraim Shitima, with a strong emphasis on a fair energy transition and climate finance, particularly for adaptation initiatives.
While there’s a growing consensus on the necessity to shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, African leaders are stressing the continent’s right to a just transition.
Many low and middle-income African nations are seeking opportunities to boost their fossil fuel production to drive industrialisation.
Their aim is to reinvest the resulting gains into sustainable, green energy sources.
Their argument mirrors the historical trajectory of developed nations, which used fossil fuels to build industries and amass wealth.
African countries seek a similar chance to accelerate their development and provide energy access to millions on the continent, primarily using fuels like gas, perceived by some as a less polluting alternative.
Presently, over 600 million Africans lack electricity, and approximately 900 million lack access to clean cooking methods.
The stance taken by both the European Union and some African climate experts and activists reflects a notable disagreement on this matter.
While some advocate for abandoning all fossil fuel production, citing concerns that oil and gas-rich nations like Nigeria haven’t adequately reinvested oil wealth in renewables or development, others propose that a rapid shift to renewable sources like wind and solar can propel development more effectively.
According to former African Union (AU) climate adviser Faten Aggad, there’s validity on both sides of the argument.
Africa’s vulnerability during oil price crashes aligns with activists’ concerns. Simultaneously, the global shift towards renewables in industry and trade poses a threat to African countries.
Aggad suggests that industry and trade measures launched by major economies are placing African nations in a precarious position.
Aggad pointed to the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, where importers will face taxes tied to the CO2 emissions from production.
She expressed a dilemma stating: “We find ourselves in a difficult situation. While we’re urged to embrace renewables, our investments in this sector remain limited.
“At present, gas appears to be the sole feasible option for Africa.”
Amidst differing opinions, the AGN at COP28 aims to present a proposal suggesting that developed countries phase out investments in fossil fuel projects by 2030, allowing developing nations the opportunity to step in and bridge that gap.
The critical matter of climate financing is once again in focus.
African nations are emphasising the need for support from wealthier countries to develop essential infrastructure and implement strategies for adapting to the challenges posed by a changing climate and rising temperatures.
This support includes crucial infrastructure such as sea walls, especially for countries grappling with significant sea level rise.
These requests align with the UNFCCC principle known as Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR), which recognises that while all countries must contribute to mitigating climate change, some bear greater historical responsibility.
As a result, these nations should take the lead in finding solutions and supporting others in this collective effort.
Adaptation funds reaching Africa have been notably insufficient.
Despite the promise made by wealthy countries in 2009 to provide $100 billion annually in climate financing to developing nations, and its renewal at COP26 in Glasgow, as of 2020, only $83 billion was being raised each year.
Moreover, a significant portion of these funds has been predominantly accessible through loans and directed to countries beyond the African continent.
In stark contrast, Africa requires over $500 billion for climate change adaptation costs by 2030, with a meager $11 billion available in 2020.
This substantial gap highlights the urgent need for increased support to meet Africa’s adaptation challenges in the face of climate change.
Through persistent efforts and collaboration with other global counterparts, African negotiators have achieved significant milestones in recent summits.
Their unwavering advocacy, spanning more than three decades, culminated in a groundbreaking achievement: the establishment of a fund for addressing loss and damage at the previous year’s conference held in Egypt.
For a prolonged period, developed nations resisted establishing this fund, designed to compensate low-emission developing nations – historically not accountable for global warming – for the immeasurable losses incurred due to climate change, impacting lives, cultures, and infrastructure in regions like Africa and Asia.
The inclusion of this fund in the final joint agreement signifies a significant step forward in the fight for climate justice.
Despite its acknowledgment, the realisation of these funds remains pending.
There’s ambiguity regarding the precise funding sources and whether major emitters, including Russia and China, categorized as “developing” nations, will be obliged to contribute.
A committee focused on loss and damage transition aims to present a proposed framework in Dubai, delineating contributors and beneficiaries of the fund.
The emphasis of COP discussions has often leaned more toward dialogue than concrete actions, particularly concerning wealthy nations’ commitments to provide climate finance and significantly reduce carbon emissions.
Regrettably, according to Aggad, former AU adviser, African negotiators frequently find themselves at a disadvantage against their wealthier counterparts.
Developed nations’ lobbyists often outnumber those from Africa or Asia at these talks.
Aggad highlights a significant gap in approach, noting that while the AGN heavily focuses on COP, developed countries treat it as a part of their foreign diplomacy strategy, with various ministries working on negotiations and deals of which the AGN might not even be fully informed.
This discrepancy often results in already-decided matters by the time COP negotiations commence.
She advocates for a reimagined negotiation strategy for Africa, urging continuous storytelling and representation in the global arena beyond the COP meetings.
The stakes are remarkably high for African nations if this round of COP negotiations fails to adequately consider the continent’s concerns during the final agreement.
Africa faces faster warming rates compared to the rest of the world, as highlighted by an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report.
Additionally, sea levels are rising here at a rate surpassing the global average.
The progress in addressing climate change is intricately linked with Africa’s developmental aspirations.
With a determined stance, African negotiators and leaders express their heightened readiness to advocate for essential funding and necessary leverage during COP28.
This preparedness was evident as African heads of states proactively strategized during the inaugural African Climate Summit held in Nairobi in August.
Through the resulting Nairobi Declaration, they issued a collective call to their wealthier counterparts, urging them to fulfill previous funding commitments, revamp unfair tax structures, lower borrowing expenses for African nations, and reevaluate debt structures.
Alongside advocating for the use of gas as a transitional fuel, African leaders are equally enthusiastic about showcasing their nations as pivotal players in climate solutions.
They aim to leverage the continent’s abundant natural resources and skilled workforce to spearhead the development of renewable energy infrastructure.
Despite holding an impressive 40 percent of the world’s solar energy potential, Africa currently has less than 1 percent of installed capacity in this domain.
*The writer of this article is Kevin Mofokeng, a developmental writer and digital PR strategist based in Gaborone, Botswana. The views expressed by Kevin Mofokeng are not necessarily those of The Bulrushes
