Africa Climate Summit: Leaders set strong tone for COP 28 in Dubai

The inaugural Africa Climate Summit concluded on Wednesday, culminating in a unified call for global leaders to endorse the imposition of international carbon taxes to support climate action.

The event, which took place in Nairobi, Kenya, produced the "Nairobi Declaration," urging world leaders to rally behind this initiative and implement financial reforms to aid African nations in their climate efforts.

The "Nairobi Declaration" represents a significant milestone, emphasizing Africa's potential as a renewable energy hub while emphasizing that nations should not be forced to choose between development and climate action.

Leaders of the continent, representing its 1.3 billion inhabitants, unanimously supported this declaration, positioning it as Africa's official stance for the upcoming COP28 summit in November.

The declaration further emphasizes that decarbonizing the global economy offers an opportunity for greater equality and shared prosperity. To fulfill this vision, the declaration calls upon major greenhouse gas emitters and affluent nations to fulfill their long-standing pledge of providing Sh14.6 trillion (USD 100 billion) annually in climate finance to developing countries.

Additionally, it advocates for a global carbon tax on fossil fuels, aviation, and maritime transport—a proposal that has faced challenges in the past.

Africa, despite experiencing severe climate impacts, currently receives only about 12 per cent of the financial support required for climate adaptation.

African countries are grappling with disproportionately high borrowing costs compared to wealthier nations, exacerbating debt crises and hindering their ability to invest in climate resilience.

The "Nairobi Declaration" also highlights the need to reform the global financial system, seeking to address the economic disparities that hinder Africa's sustainable development. It calls for the exploitation and processing of the continent's substantial mineral wealth within Africa itself.

Efforts made during the summit secured substantial financial commitments for green initiatives, including a Ksh 657.9 billion (USD 4.5 billion) pledge from the United Arab Emirates, the hosts of COP28 in November. Nevertheless, the declaration underscores that achieving meaningful decarbonization across Africa necessitates a substantial increase in funding.

In his address, Kenyan President William Ruto emphasized Africa's potential as a green industrial hub and urged a fair playing field for African countries to access investments that can unlock renewable energy resources.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also highlighted the promise of renewable energy for Africa, particularly solar power, given the region's favorable climate conditions. He called for collaboration between African nations, developed countries, financial institutions, and technology companies to realize this potential.

Skeptics

While the summit witnessed significant commitments, it also faces skepticism about the feasibility of its recommendations.

Some experts stress the urgency of translating commitments into concrete actions on the ground. Additionally, there is ongoing debate about the effectiveness of carbon markets as a solution to emissions reduction, with concerns about transparency and integrity in Africa's voluntary carbon market.

In its comprehensive response to the Nairobi Declaration, Conservation International-Africa,

acknowledged the urgent need for innovative solutions to combat the dual challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss, stressing that the world is still far from achieving the necessary measures to curb climate change effectively.

The organization endorsed the African Union's commitment, as outlined in the Nairobi Declaration, to strengthen actions aimed at halting and reversing biodiversity loss, restoring degraded lands, and collectively protecting 30 per cent of African land within the current decade.

The organization emphasized that more needs to be done and urged African nations to establish robust frameworks for the protection, maintenance, and restoration of vital ecosystems.

Lack of Action

One aspect highlighted in the response is the absence of explicit calls within the Nairobi Declaration for action on developing and implementing carbon market laws and policies.

Conservation International stressed the significance of aligning these policies with international standards such as Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

They argue that these measures are crucial to create effective frameworks that not only safeguard nature but also ensure that local communities benefit from investments in environmental protection.

Moreover, the organisation expressed its unwavering commitment to supporting elements of the Nairobi Declaration that promote climate-positive growth and advocate for the protection and enhancement of nature through policies and processes. They commended the alignment of the African Union's Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan with the global vision of living in harmony with nature by 2050.

Conservation International underscored the importance of incentivizing the conservation and restoration of natural resources, especially in regions where communities heavily rely on them for their livelihoods. They argued that improving livelihoods and reducing poverty are essential components of sustainable progress.

The organization also pointed out that green finance and investments hold the potential to generate employment, stimulate economies, enhance living conditions, and concurrently preserve the environment.

At the Africa Climate Summit, former Colombian President Iván Duque, who serves as a board member of Conservation International, emphasized the need to balance carbon neutrality with nature-positive actions. He highlighted the challenges faced by countries in the Global South in allocating fiscal resources to climate action and conservation efforts. Duque cited the example of Colombia's collaboration with Conservation International to expand marine protected areas through innovative mechanisms like blue bonds.

Duque stressed the vital role of carbon credit markets in mobilizing resources for projects aimed at achieving carbon neutrality and fostering nature-positive outcomes. He lauded the Africa Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI), a close collaborator of Conservation International, for its impressive progress, having garnered nearly Sh140 billion (USD1 billion) in advance commitments within just a year.

He described ACMI as a remarkable opportunity for Africa to address climate change and conservation in a transformative way.

In conclusion, the Africa Climate Summit continues to serve as a pivotal platform for discussions and actions aimed at mitigating the impact of climate change and protecting Africa's diverse and vital natural heritage. Conservation International's response underscores the importance of innovative solutions, robust frameworks, and international alignment in achieving these critical goals.

The Africa Climate Summit served as a preparatory event for the United Nations climate change conference in Dubai , bringing together leaders from government, business, and civil society. However, it also highlighted the need for constructive efforts to bridge gaps and advance climate action on a global scale.