Road to COP28: Africa urged to collaborate on climate action

Environment and climate stakeholders have appealed to African nations to form an agenda at the upcoming Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention (COP28) on Climate Change.

The Climate COP is an annual event held in different cities to demonstrate the importance of collaboration from nations across the globe in tackling the climate crisis.

This year’s COP28 will take place from November 30 to December 12 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), whose theme is majorly anchored on reducing emissions through climate change mitigation and just energy, building climate resilient societies, and investing in solutions to climate change effects.

In preparation for the forthcoming COP28, the Standard Group led a Climate Action forum at the Boma Hotel in Nairobi on Tuesday, November 7, where different non-state actors outlined their expectations.

The stakeholders oppose that carbon credit should not be an alternative to climate financing calling for African leaders to commit to a just and equitable transition to renewable energy.

“We identified in the Nairobi summit declaration that developed countries fulfil their historical responsibility and provide adequate and predictable finance, technology transfer, capacity building to support adaptation, mitigation, loss, and damage in Africa,” said Ezekiel Lesmore, a non-state actor. 

Climate change advisor Charles Waituru also urged the Kenyan government to create space for inclusivity ahead of the global climate conference. 

A youth advocate felt that there was a need to have climate change education to enhance inclusivity by bringing more youth on board to provide solutions to the climate change crisis.

In August this year, Kenya hosted the inaugural African Climate Summit (ACS) that led to the unanimous adoption of the Nairobi declaration.

The declaration was anchored on Africa’s potential to decarbonize its economy and harness its renewable energy resources.

The summit also witnessed substantial commitments totaling a remarkable Sh3.4 trillion ($23 billion) for green growth, mitigation, and adaptation efforts to climate change across Africa.

Last year’s COP27 held in Egypt resolved to establish and operationalize a loss and damages fund for countries vulnerable to the climate crisis.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres remarked that; “This COP has taken an important step towards justice”.

The event also resolved to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) responsible for the climate change effects. To shape the priorities for climate action, countries agreed to fast-track the energy transition and slash emissions before 2030 to limit global warming to 1.5° C (2.7° F).