Africa pushes for climate justice at COP 29, seeks $1.3tr financing promise

As the countdown to the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 29) in Baku, Azerbaijan gathers pace, Africa is intensifying its push for a more robust and equitable climate financing framework.

In an interview with ‘The Standard’, Executive Director of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), Mithika Mwenda, outlined Africa’s priorities for the upcoming conference next month.

He stated the need for substantial commitments from developed nations to meet climate financing needs and address historical injustices in climate action.

Climate finance, which has been a sticking issue between the Global North and the Global South, is set to take centre stage at COP 29.

According to Mwenda, the upcoming summit is a “Climate Finance COP”. He props it as a crucial opportunity for Africa to secure a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance that directly addresses the continent’s needs.

“Africa has positioned its priorities to tap into the momentum provided by the NCQG, ensuring that all actions are geared towards securing an ambitious and outcome based goal,” said Mwenda.

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For Africa, this means focusing on financing mechanisms that support adaptation in the wake of negative effects of climate change, which have become increasingly severe across the continent.

From prolonged droughts that recently threatened food security in Eastern Africa to devastating floods in West Africa, Mwenda noted that the continent bears a disproportionate burden despite contributing less than 4 per cent to global greenhouse gas emissions.

“Africa’s carbon footprint remains minimal, yet the continent is at the forefront of the de-carbonisation agenda,” he said.

He said that developed countries should lead in emission reductions.

One of Africa’s key demands is a call for an NCQG with a financial commitment of no less than US$1.3 trillion annually.

This amount, Mwenda said, is necessary to support the continent’s transition to low-carbon and climate-resilient development pathways.

“We expect an NCQG that reflects the evolving needs of developing countries,” he said.

The funds, he maintains, should be primarily delivered through concessional finance and grants, especially for adaptation and loss and damage.

According to Mwenda, the demand for such a significant commitment is rooted in the understanding that past pledges from developed countries have not been met.

Mwenda pointed out that despite various commitments under the Paris Agreement, the flow of climate finance to Africa has not met the scale of the challenge.

“Previous efforts have weakened the Paris Agreement, and further measures being proposed could render it useless if adopted,” he warned.

Kenya plays a strategic role in Africa’s climate agenda, chairing the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) through Ambassador Mohamed Ali, who also advises President William Ruto on climate matters.

It holds a position that Mwenda says, gives the country the responsibility of ensuring that Africa’s collective voice is heard during the negotiations.

“The AGN have for a significant while provided a unified front for Africa in climate negotiations, mobilising expertise, capacity, collectivising positions and providing a broad-based platform for negotiating with other blocks,” said Mwenda.

The AGN influence is seen as crucial for navigating the geopolitical complexities that often dominate COP negotiations.

Kenya’s experience with the Financing Locally Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) programme has offered valuable lessons for the broader push for climate financing reforms.

Mwenda noted how Kenya has borrowed from the World Bank to support local climate adaptation efforts, targeting sectors like agriculture and water.

While the programme has been instrumental in shaping climate responses, he cautioned that it is a loan, which has long term implications for Kenya’s economy.

“This loan will impact Kenyans for years to come, as climate justice rationale is being side-stepped,” he added. Mwenda stated that while significant progress has been made in developing a common position for the continent, the challenge lies in balancing the interests of different blocs.

“The push for private sector contributions presents both opportunities and challenges, as developed countries shift their financial burdens to the private sector,” he noted.

Mwenda believes that the FLLoCA model can inform reforms to make global financing mechanisms like the Green Climate Fund (GCF) more responsive to the needs of frontline communities. However, he stressed that addressing the root causes of climate vulnerability requires more than just incremental funding.

“The gap in financing is not just about quantity but also about how well these funds address the realities of communities most impacted by climate change,” he said.

One of the most pressing challenges Africa faces at COP 29 is ensuring that developed countries honour the commitments.

Mwenda was candid about the difficulties of holding these nations accountable, citing power asymmetries within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process.

“African countries have given space to influence decisions through COPs, but the effectiveness of this space is limited by power imbalances,” he said. He pointed out that even the Santiago Network on Loss and Damage, initially slated for Nairobi, was controversially moved to Geneva, clearly showcasing the challenges of power dynamics.

“Many dynamics are at play in negotiations including the ever-evolving geo-politics that shape the positions adopted by different countries and regions and ultimately the nature of decisions finally adopted in COP,” said Mwenda.

To counter the imbalances, Mwenda suggested leveraging the collective influence of African political leaders and forging strategic alliances with European and other supportive blocs.

“Shaping solidarity processes with allies, advancing the just transition discourse, and mainstreaming climate finance reforms are critical to securing our goals,” he argued.

Civil society organizations (CSOs) have also been vocal about their expectations for COP 29, aligning their position with the broader goals of governments and institutions like the African Union Commission.

Mwenda said that their focus remains on climate finance and adaptation, with a strong call for a framework that meets the needs of communities on the frontline of climate impacts.

“The position of CSOs has been extensively canvassed with African governments and institutions,” Mwenda said. He stated that they are calling for a public-financed sub-goal within the NCQG to ensure resources reach those who need them most.

CSOs have also been critical of the slow progress in operationalising frameworks like the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA). Mwenda stated the importance of developing indicators in key sectors such as agriculture, water and infrastructure.

“Adaptation finance must be scaled up to support development and implementation of National Adaptation Plans,” he said.

According to Mwenda, in previous COPs, African leadership has been accused of using the platform to cut deals and sign contracts that are counterproductive to the position being advanced by African nations and negotiation process.

in Baku, Azerbaijan gathers pace, Africa is intensifying its push for a more robust and equitable climate financing framework.