As the Azerbaijan COP29 Summit (November 11-22) approaches, Africa’s voice is set to be a dominant one. The continent, which has over the last year been affected heavily by climate change despite contributing the least to greenhouse gas emissions, has a critical agenda to push at the international summit.
At the forefront of Africa’s priorities is the urgent need for increased climate finance. This is especially on the unmet grants amounting over $5 trillion. Moreover, Africa has become more vulnerable despite various efforts by different countries. Over the last year alone, various countries like Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, have experienced droughts, floods, and cyclones.
As such, entities and groups like The African Development Bank (AFDB) should continue being instrumental in advocating for greater climate finance flows to the continent. It’s about time we put more emphasis on the need for equitable global financial architecture.
Another key area of focus for Africa at COP29 is the sustainable and transparent exploitation of its vast mineral resources. While minerals are vital for the transition to a green economy, their extraction in countries like the DRC, Zimbabwe, Ghana have proven that the activity can have significant environmental and social consequences.
Renewable energy is a crucial component of Africa’s climate agenda. The continent possesses abundant renewable resources, including solar, wind, and hydropower. However, investments in renewable energy infrastructure are still lagging behind. COP29 presents an opportunity for Africa to secure the necessary financing and technology to accelerate its renewable energy transition.
Therefore, African Climate leaders and negotiators like AFDB are working tirelessly to reach this goal. Countries like South Africa, Kenya, and Ethiopia are leading the way in climate action and advocating for ambitious global climate targets.
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