In a significant development, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change announced during the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) its decision to increase observer badges for COP29, prioritizing organizations from the Global South. This move marks an effort to address long-standing concerns over the underrepresentation of vulnerable nations at the pivotal climate summits.
UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell, during his address, emphasized that “boosting the proportion of observer organizations from the Global South” was a crucial step forward, following guidance from Parties earlier this year.
Mohamed Adow, Director of the Nairobi-based think tank Power Shift Africa, welcomed this decision, stating, “For too long, COP summits have been largely dominated by delegates from the Global North. The people and organizations who caused the climate crisis have had disproportionate power. It is only right that this imbalance is now being rectified.”
Adow’s remarks echo an underlying sentiment that African nations, which contribute the least to global emissions, suffer the worst effects of climate change. The continent, warming at a faster rate than the global average, faces challenges such as desertification, habitat destruction, and extreme weather events that severely impact food production and livelihoods. In fact, climate-driven disasters are already draining up to 5% of GDP from many African nations.
UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell reiterated that Africa has a tremendous opportunity to capitalize on the shift towards renewable energy. “Climate action is the single greatest economic opportunity of this century. It can and should be the single greatest opportunity for Africa,” However, he warned that the continent remains severely underfunded, with a mere $2.6 billion out of over $400 billion spent on clean energy globally in 2023 going to African nations. He stressed the need to scale up investment at least fivefold by 2030 to unlock Africa’s potential in driving climate solutions.
While addressing adaptation challenges, Stiell highlighted that only 29 out of 54 African countries have submitted their National Adaptation Plans, which are crucial to building resilience in the face of climate impacts. For Ghana, this lack of adaptation funding could exacerbate the existing struggles around sustainable development, especially in sectors like agriculture and mining.
Ghana, known for its wealth of critical minerals, is also grappling with how to balance economic growth with environmental preservation. Minerals such as lithium, used in clean energy technologies, are becoming increasingly important in the global market. However, as the country extracts these valuable resources, it faces environmental degradation that threatens water sources and local communities.
The intersection of climate adaptation and sustainable mineral extraction underscores the urgency for Ghana and other African nations to be fully represented and heard at international climate negotiations like COP29.
The decision to expand COP observer representation is a crucial step in ensuring that the voices of African countries are heard as the world grapples with solutions to climate change. The Loss and Damage Fund, a key mechanism for compensating vulnerable nations, and the development of new international climate finance goals are expected to be hot topics at COP29 in Baku. Power Shift Africa and other organizations from the Global South will play a pivotal role in these discussions, advocating for fair financing and the implementation of solutions that address the unique needs of African nations.
In conclusion, the road to climate justice for Africa requires both a strong voice at global climate summits and increased investment in clean energy and climate adaptation. With more African organizations now gaining access to the negotiation table, there is hope that the continent’s needs will be better addressed, enabling it to lead the charge in sustainable development while protecting its people from the devastating impacts of climate change.
