COP28: Africa puts developed countries on the spot for not considering needed adaptation finance

By Michel Nkurunziza.

Developed countries are on the spot for not considering needed adaptation finance for Africa as 28^th UN climate summit in Dubai-COP28 is set to close in few hours ahead.

“Africa cannot accept a GGA framework without means of implementation from developed countries for developing countries,” Collins Nzovu, the chair of African Group of Negotiators (AGN) stated on Tuesday, December 12.

Adaptation is a key issue for Africa, and an outcome on the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) has been ITS key demand.

“We will not agree on anything here unless Africa’s top priorities are met, which to us, is a GGA framework. If we are serious about saving lives, livelihoods and protecting ecosystems, then the GGA framework must have ambitious, time-bound targets with clear means of support for implementation,’ he noted.

The GGA outcome must address thematic targets and dimensional targets on equal footing and the targets must be measurable and time-bound so we can track progress. Tracking progress, which is outcome-based is important in reducing impacts and risks.

Nzovu said Africa cannot accept a GGA framework without means of implementation from developed countries for developing countries, especially on the targets.

“We demand for a standing agenda item on GGA and further work on metrics and indicators for tracking progress, including inviting input from the IPCC at a workshop and a longer-term task force for adaptation beyond the GGA framework.”

On the Global Stock Take, the outcome must recognize Africa’s Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication imperatives; that are consistent with Agenda 2063.

Africa’s cumulative historical emissions are a paltry 3 percent of the global total; current emissions from the energy and industrialized sector are also an inconsequential 3 percent for a continent of over 50 countries and 1.5 billion people.

Further to this, the continent is the least electrified, over 50% of the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have electricity access rates below 50%, while 600 million people are without access to electricity which is central for the provision of basic services, including primary health, clean water, education and livelihoods.

The Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has indicated that more than 900 million people in Africa are without clean cooking technology, many of whom are still using biomass and animal dung for cooking, resulting in many health problems particularly for women and children. Poverty eradication and access to modern energy is a priority for Africa.

According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), an estimated $2 trillion in investments are needed in new generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure along with innovative energy technologies and delivery systems to meet the continent’s growing energy needs.

Africa’s Energy Resources and Potential

Africa holds 6 percent of known global reserves of oil and gas and accounts for about 12% of global production.

According to Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Africa is the second largest exporting region with 16% of total exports.

Crude oil production in Africa is estimated at almost 10 million barrels per day, representing about 10% of global crude oil production according to The African Energy Commission (AFREC).

“These resources are crucial to Africa’s development as a means of earning foreign exchange and a positive balance of payments. Therefore, significant concessional financial support for our transition is essential, if we are to move away from the exploitation of fossil fuels,” Nzovu noted.

He said that Africa is in support of limiting warming to 1.5°C, however this should be based on differentiated pathways where African countries close the supply gap, rather than developed countries continuing to issue exploration licenses to avoid stranded assets as the African supply will be towards the global demand.

“The economic impact of stranded assets could amount to trillions of dollars. Fossil fuel assets are most vulnerable over the coming decade; oil and gas assets are more vulnerable toward mid-century.”

Civil society organizations speak out

Ahead of COP28 final negotiations Pan African Climate Justice Alliance on Tuesday stated :”COP28 further weakens Paris Agreement. COP28 has missed opportunity to put world on track to reduce greenhouse gas emissions consistent with Paris Agreement target.”

According to PACJA, “Phasing out fossil fuels, the single most significant action needed to limit the emissions of most greenhouse gases and reverse global warming looks like a muzzled conversation in COP28 despite evidence generated in the Global Stock Take Process.”

Speaking about adaptation finance, it added: that COP28 generated a paltry $156 million in pledges for adaptation finance, compared to Billions of Dollars pledged for mitigation-centric initiatives.

But this falls short of the pledges made in Glasgow to double adaptation finance to $40 billion annually.

“We have emphasized the importance of developed countries fulfilling their climate finance commitments. It should be noted that the current demands for climate finance are in billions of dollars annually, not just the previously pledged USD 100 billion,” reads the statement.

According to Fadhel Kaboub Senior advisor with Power Shift Africa, “Climate finance requires a minimum of $2.4 trillion of grant-based investment, transfer of technology for climate adaptation, mitigation by 2030. We are nowhere near that target at end of COP28.”

Climate finance is a climate debt owed by the historic polluters of the Global North to Global South countries, he added.

This story was produced with assistance from MESHA and IDRC Eastern and Southern Africa Office for science journalists reporting on COP28.