African Perspectives Set to Influence COP 27 Agenda

 By Seth Owusu-Mante

The recent IPCC report warns that severe climate impacts are in store if the world fails to halve greenhouse gas emissions this decade. Currently, climate change is impacting every corner of the world. Africa remains very vulnerable and exposed to these impacts despite accounting for less than 4% of global greenhouse emissions.

With Egypt set to host the next Conference of the Parties (COP 27), there are high hopes that climate issues close to the heart of African nations and other countries unduly impacted by climate change can be advanced. According to Egypt’s President, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the government of Egypt hosting COP 27 on behalf of Africa would work to make the conference “a radical turning point in international climate efforts in coordination with all parties, for the benefit of Africa and the entire world,”.

What are the climate issues close to the heart of African nations? The demands made by African governments at COP 26 provide a window into the concerns of African leaders on the desired climate action to enable the continent scale up its adaptation efforts while transitioning to cleaner energy options. A review of the statements delivered by Heads of State and Government of 49 African nations at COP 26 indicates that climate finance, technology transfer and capacity building, and emission reduction by the major polluters are particularly important for the continent. Other issues including loss and damage and addressing bottlenecks hindering the full implementation of the Paris Agreement could give countries in the region the much-needed boost on the climate front.

Egypt’s COP 27 presents a unique opportunity to adopt effective agreements and responses to address these demands for the good of the African continent and other global hot spots for climate change including Southern Asia, Central and South America, and Small Island Developing States.

Climate Finance

Climate finance emerged as the single most important demand by African leaders at COP 26. Thirty-five African leaders explicitly articulated demands for climate finance through their speeches and statements. Some African leaders called on developed economies to honor the pledge to provide $100 billion a year to developing nations to assist with adaptation and mitigation costs. But new calls were made for a more ambitious post 2025 climate finance target with a clear and predictable roadmap on how the committed amounts will be delivered and utilized. The African leaders stressed that not less than half of committed climate finance must be dedicated to adaptation.

Developed economies were also called upon to de-risk private capital and green investments to accelerate private investments that will enable developing countries to have a fair chance at adaptation and a just transition. In addition, the African leaders expressed concerns for the need to resolve existing ambiguities in the current climate finance architecture around the definition, modalities, and methodologies to enhance transparency and the effective flow of funds to developing economies. 

Technology Transfer and Capacity Building

Seventeen African leaders unequivocally called for the transfer of technology and capacity building, particularly for adaptation and building resilience at the national and local levels. The leaders contend that without support through technologies and capacity building needed to adapt to the dire consequences of climate change and to shift from carbon intensive development pathways, African countries would find it extremely difficult to implement their ambitious climate action plans.

Emission Reduction by Major Emitters

Existing climate policies and Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) commitments from major emitters will not keep global temperatures consistent with the 1.5-degrees global greenhouse emissions target. African leaders specifically called on major emitters to urgently cut down on their own emissions at COP 26 as rapidly as possible. Fifteen African leaders explicitly espoused this call in their statements in Glasgow.

 In the view of African leaders, the science is clear that we only have a small window of opportunity to ensure that collective and decisive action is taken to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change. Hence, clear, deep, and real cuts in greenhouse gas emissions must be addressed by all countries, with developed countries and the top 20 emitters taking the lead.   

Other Demands

Other issues including mechanisms to address loss and damage emerged on the demand list of African governments at COP 26. The African leaders are seeking agreement on measures to address major bottlenecks hindering the full implementation of the Paris Agreement, particularly finalizing the Paris Rulebook, and adopting mutual guidelines to implement Article 6 of the Agreement. In addition, calls were made to developed countries to support specific joint initiatives by African governments aimed at addressing climate change on the continent. Such programs and initiatives include the Great Green Wall initiative, the Congo Basin Blue Fund, the African Initiative for Renewable Energies (IAER),  and the Adaptation Initiative of Agriculture in Africa.

 Given that the Glasgow Climate Pact failed to address these demands either in whole or in part, pressure is on to achieve more progress during COP 27. For the “desired turning point in international climate efforts” aspired by the Egyptian president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to be a reality, COP 27 must drive a robust agenda in partnership with both developing and developed countries to address these demands. This will carve a strong pathway that will ensure that major emitters and rich countries cut their emissions in line with the 1.5 degrees target while supporting countries in Africa, Southern Asia, Central and South America, and Small Island Developing States to reduce poverty and become climate resilient. ∎

Seth is a PhD student at The Fletcher School, Tufts University.