African Climate Negotiators Convene in Nairobi Ahead of Inaugural Africa Climate Summit
In a report published ahead of the summit, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned that climate change poses a threat to fragile nations worldwide, increasing the risk of conflict and casualties.
Nairobi, Kenya – Lead coordinators from the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN) have assembled in Nairobi to deliberate on key issues concerning Africa's interests and expectations for COP28 at the inaugural Africa Climate Summit (ACS), writes Charles Mangwiro.
Scheduled for September 4-6, 2023, in Nairobi, the ACS, jointly hosted by Kenya and the African Union Commission (AUC), carries the theme "Green Growth and Climate Finance for Africa and the World."
Its primary objective is to amplify Africa's global voice and seamlessly integrate it into established international forums, including the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), G7/G20 processes, and COP 28.
The summit is set to run concurrently with Africa Climate Week (September 4–8, 2023), an annual United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) event aimed at fostering actions aligned with the Paris Agreement's goals and objectives.
Africa Climate Change Week, ACW 2023, themed "Driving Green Growth and Climate Finance Solutions for Africa and the World," is being hosted by the Kenyan government.
This event will take place from September 4th to 8th at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, attracting leaders from governments, businesses, international organisations, and civil society.
The focus is on exploring strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while adapting to the escalating impacts of the climate crisis.
The gathering is anticipated to unite leaders from Africa and beyond, along with development partners, intergovernmental organisations, the private sector, academia, civil society organisations, women, and youth.
The aim is to collaboratively design and catalyse actions and solutions for addressing climate change in Africa.
The platform will facilitate discussions on the interplay between climate change, Africa's development reality, and the imperative of increased global investment in climate action, particularly in Africa.
In addition to defining the African common position on various climate thematic negotiating streams, AGN Lead Coordinators are also deliberating on the Nairobi Declaration, a pivotal outcome document expected to emerge at the conclusion of the summit.
During the opening session of the meeting, AGN Chair Ephraim Mwepya Shitima underscored the vital role of Lead Coordinators as technical advisors to policymakers regarding Africa's effective participation in global climate negotiations vis-à-vis the continent's development realities and aspirations.
Gracing the occasion, Rose Mwebaza, the Director for Africa at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Regional Office, commended AGN for its longstanding contribution to Africa's active involvement in climate processes.
She encouraged the group to maintain its focus, emphasizing the exciting times ahead as the continent prepares to host the inaugural Africa Climate Summit. She urged the technical negotiators to stay committed to providing necessary guidance aligned with the continent's development needs.
Opportunity for Africa
Africa, often touted as the continent of the future, is on the cusp of a transformative era. With the distinction of being the youngest and fastest-urbanizing continent, its population is projected to double to 2.5 billion by 2050. Africa boasts significant potential in clean energy, arable land, critical minerals, and natural resources.
Despite demonstrating strong momentum in driving green growth, the continent needs to capitalize on this momentum. This involves harnessing its vast resources through a holistic Green Growth Agenda while securing climate finance tailored to Africa's needs to achieve its growth ambitions.
Africa's renewables potential is estimated to be fifty times the global anticipated electricity demand by 2040. Yet, renewable energy currently constitutes only 10% of the electricity generation mix and 20% of the total installed electricity generation capacity in Africa.
The continent is home to 30–40% of the world's minerals, including those critical for the green energy transition and batteries, such as over 40% of global reserves of cobalt, manganese, and platinum. However, Africa has made limited progress in clean energy and mobility.
Similarly, Africa possesses 60% of the world's remaining uncultivated arable land. Sustainable exploitation of this resource can contribute to global food security, yet the continent remains a net importer of food.
The summit aims to shift Africa's narrative on climate change towards a growth agenda by tapping into opportunities for economic transformation.
The Green Growth Agenda comprises five core growth thrusts: energy transition/renewable energy, green minerals and manufacturing, sustainable agriculture, land and water/ocean use, sustainable infrastructure and urbanization, and natural capital.
These are supported by two crucial cross-cutting levers: adaptation and resilience to climate risk, and climate finance and carbon credits.
African Heads of State, UN leadership, presidents, and governments from various parts of the world are expected to attend the summit. Kenya, with its ambitious target of achieving 100% clean energy by 2030, is poised to showcase the fundamental role of renewables in Africa's green growth pathway.
The Africa Climate Summit, themed around opportunities for green growth and sustainable development, seeks to bridge gaps arising from the Sharm El Sheikh Implementation Plan. This includes fostering trust within the global community and delivering tangible outcomes.
Dr. Olumide Abimbola, Founder and Director of the Africa Policy Research Institute, emphasised Africa's abundant mineral resources, which are necessary for powering the green transition.
He noted that African governments are increasingly focused on retaining these minerals within the continent, ensuring value addition, and using them to drive national and regional industrialization processes.
Dr. Abimbola expressed hope for a strong message in this regard during the African Climate Summit, along with concrete plans for implementation and the roles external actors can play.
Furthermore, the summit provides a platform to address the confluence of climate change, Africa's development, and the imperative of increased global investment in climate action, particularly in Africa. It also presents an opportunity for Africa to consolidate its unified stance on climate change and sustainable development while mobilizing support for the implementation of continental programs and policies, including the African Union Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan.
With anticipated agreements and announcements, organizers aim to send market signals for investments in Africa's abundant resources in clean energy, critical minerals, agriculture, and natural capital.
The summit marks a pivotal moment for the future of climate action in Africa, offering not only the first summit of its kind but also the potential to outline a roadmap for low-carbon development across the continent.
At the conclusion of the conference, African governments are expected to sign a "Nairobi Declaration on Climate Change," outlining numerous commitments related to renewable energy development, sustainable agriculture, forest conservation, and more.
Mohamed Adow, Director of the energy and climate think-tank Power Shift Africa, emphasized the reality that Africa did not cause the climate crisis but holds the key to addressing it. He stressed the importance of Africa unlocking its abundant clean, renewable energy resources to power future prosperity, emphasizing the need for funding from countries that have profited from Africa's struggles.
Mwandwe Chileshe, Global Policy Lead for Food Security and Agriculture at Global Citizen, highlighted the summit's opportunity for an African Leaders Nairobi Declaration on Green Growth and Climate Finance Solutions.
He called for prioritizing discussions on adaptation finance, considering that Africa is home to most people grappling with the impacts of climate change, particularly smallholder farmers.
Chileshe emphasized the urgency of bridging the gap between climate financing needs and disparities.
In a report published ahead of the summit, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned that climate change poses a threat to fragile nations worldwide, increasing the risk of conflict and casualties.