Group Urges African Nations to Confront Climate Crisis
The forum highlighted the need for African leadership in climate adaptation and resilience efforts while holding high-emitting nations accountable.
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa— The Southern Africa Trust says African governments must mobilize available resources to urgently address climate change impacts on the continent, writes Meclina Chirwa.
Speaking at a regional climate policy forum in Johannesburg, trust CEO Alice Kanengoni said Africa shoulders the burden of global carbon emissions yet still lacks capacity for climate action.
“It’s very unfortunate to claim there are no resources and capacity to address climate change when we’re talking about a continent well-endowed with natural resources,” Kanengoni said.
She lamented African nations seeking climate financing through loans that indebt them to historic emitters.
“You are giving loans to a continent with no capacity to repay,” she said.
“How will they pay back loans to respond to droughts, floods and challenges faced?”
Kanengoni urged reframing narratives around Africa’s wealth of mineral resources.
“We are talking of no resources yet we sit on them,” she said.
“That tells you Africans are not committed to address our own problems.”
The trust wants to spur solutions firmly rooted in Africa's realities, especially for women and children most impacted by climate shocks, she said.
Kanengoni said the continent must unite to tackle shared challenges.
“The COP conversations do not take Africa’s realities into consideration,” she lamented.
Herbert Mwalukomo of Malawi's Center for Environmental Policy and Advocacy said while flawed, U.N. climate talks remain the only process for international cooperation.
“It is better to participate than not be part of the process,” he said, citing Malawi’s contributions to agreements like the Paris accord.
“We need financing to address these problems.”
But he agreed Africa has largely been saddled with loans and failed to receive promised climate funding.
Werani Chilenga, chair of Malawi's natural resources and climate change committee, blamed deforestation for affecting ecosystems and livelihoods.
“African governments should coordinate policies and programs towards climate mitigation,” he urged.
The forum highlighted the need for African leadership in climate adaptation and resilience efforts while holding high-emitting nations accountable.