African leaders align climate priorities ahead of COP29 in Abidjan
The meeting precedes the Tenth Special Session of AMCEN and UNCCD COP 16 Regional Consultation, scheduled for Aug. 30 to Sept. 6 in Abidjan.
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast— Key African stakeholders gathered in Abidjan to align the continent's climate action priorities ahead of the COP29 conference, writes Winston Mwale.
The meeting, the Twelfth Conference on Climate Change and Development in Africa, opened on Aug. 30 alongside the Tenth Special Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN).
Cote d'Ivoire's Environment Minister highlighted Africa's disproportionate climate burden, noting the continent emits less than 4% of global greenhouse gases yet faces severe consequences.
Ambassador Josefa Sacko of the African Union Commission warned that without urgent action, climate change could lead to a 5% annual GDP loss in Africa by 2040.
Anthony Nyong, African Development Bank Director for Climate Change and Green Growth, emphasized the need for increased support.
"The current global climate finance falls far short of African countries' needs and expectations, with less than 3% reaching sub-Saharan Africa annually," Nyong said.
The conference aims to build consensus on Africa's climate position and align priorities with the 2023 global stocktake outcomes.
Key objectives include developing frameworks for nationally determined contributions and identifying financing needs for climate adaptation.
The African Development Bank pledged to double its climate finance to $25 billion by next year and increase Africa's share of global climate finance from 3% to 10%.
The meeting precedes the Tenth Special Session of AMCEN and UNCCD COP 16 Regional Consultation, scheduled for Aug. 30 to Sept. 6 in Abidjan.