‘COP 28, Africa’s deliverance to wait Climate Finance’

 

‘COP 28, Africa’s deliverance to wait Climate Finance’

 

By Daily News Reporter

Africa’s turn around in economic and environmental degradation spurred by climate change lies in the provision of finance to help countries mitigate and adapt and the ongoing Conference of Parties is the last straw in the impasse, Zambia’s minister of Green Economy and Environment Collins Nzovu says.

Zambia, in its capacity as Chair of the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change at the on-going 28th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, envisages the COP underway will deliver the continent out of the debris.

Eng. Nzovu reaffirmed Africa’s calls for robust mobilisation of climate finance notes that while African countries remain optimistic of reversing the damages to economies and the environment affected by the crisis, remains hopeful that the continent’s outcry to secure fund to mitigate and adapt will be heard and concluded before the close of the annual global meeting.

“There is no ambition without climate finance, and we cannot implement our action if there is no finance,” Nzovu told delegates while looking up to cooperating partners and major polluters to honour their belated and unfulfilled US$100 billion since COP 15.

“Mr. President [of COP28], we welcome your efforts in mobilising climate finance. You have shown us that if there is a commitment, climate finance will be mobilised, and we have this time, the pledges made will be delivered, not as in the previous COP.”

Africa’s expectations of key outcomes of the ongoing indaba are massive given the delays in action but of paramount need is the delayed support towards adaptation to the impact of climate change.

“Africa’s position is that there is no successful outcome without a detailed outcome on the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA). This is a mandate equally important as Global Stocktake (GST).

" We reiterate that adaptation is a key priority for the continent and a critical component in the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Therefore, the launching of the GGA framework is one of the most important outcomes for Africa at COP28,”

said.

“At the heart of the framework is the development of qualitative and quantitative dimensional and thematic targets that are measurable and time-bound to help us achieve the objective of the GGA.”

He said with regards the Global Stocktake (GST), the objective of the Paris Agreement in Article 2.1 places emphasis on the pursuit of enhancing climate action in the context of sustainable development and eradication of poverty.

He, therefore, said the GST outcome must be guided by the principles of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Paris Agreement.

“On the just transitions pathways: we are of the view this work programme will advance the implementation of climate action and strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change in the context of sustainable development.

"COP28 should agree on the work programme's scope and modalities mandating the Subsidiary Bodies (SBs) to carry out the work, and the Conference of Parties Serving as Meetings of Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA) reach the annual decision to guide the work programme.”

Africa envisions that the Ministers only address political issues and provide space for the technical negotiations.

Minister Nzovu reiterates Africa quest that the COP28 President ensures that the technical negotiation, Head of Delegation level and Ministerial level on the same issues should not be held in parallel.

“Africa pledges our support to you [COP28 President] again to make this COP, a historic one that will be remembered for delivering for the people and our countries,” said Nzovu. Recent studies by climate change campaigners shows greater need for sustained funding.

To adapt, reports show that African countries need to raise an annual average of $124 billion. Currently the continent receives a paltry $28 billion a year, far below the needs to mitigate and adapt effectives.

While Africa is responsible for only about 3 per cent of global carbon emissions, it is being hardest hit by climate change with little or no recourse to replenishment or compensation by polluters including United States, India, Japan among others.