By Oforiwa Darko
“This is no ordinary summit. We are not here just to talk about Africa or climate change in the usual way, which often accentuates our divisions—north versus south, developed versus developing, polluters versus the victims”.
Kenya’s President William Ruto, who hosted the inaugural Africa Climate Summit which is running concurrently with the Africa Climate Week in Nairobi, Kenya, made these remarks when he addressed African Heads of State and delegates at the Kenyatta Convention Centre.
“Africa’s carbon footprint remains small, but the human toll of climate change is disproportionately high. The urgency to address loss and damage, and to configure appropriate financial mechanisms for resilience grows with each extreme weather event and each bout of climate-induced insecurity”.
President William Ruto further noted that Africa possesses all the necessary conditions to realize the green growth future.
“Our foremost asset is our young and growing workforce, educated, skilled and motivated to pursue industry, innovation and enterprise”.
Issues of concern highlighted at the ministerial side events and plenary sessions at the summit included the delivery of a 100 billion dollars of climate finance pledged annually by rich countries to developing countries and the need for Africa to collaborate towards mutually beneficial outcomes as the fight against climate change continues.
CHAMPIONING THE GREEN GROWTH AGENDA
Africa’s green growth target seeks to pursue inclusive economic growth through policies, programs and projects that invest in sustainable infrastructure, well-managed natural resources, build resilience to natural disasters and enhance food security.
The Africa Climate Summit aims to emphasize Africa’s untapped potential to drive green growth both within the continent and globally.
Delegates at the Summit have intensified discussions about how Africa can tap into its renewable energy potential, the natural assets and resources to green Africa’s consumption to enable it efficiently contribute to decarbonisation of the global economy.
For Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, represented at the Summit, experts should understand the local context of providing climate solutions by collaborating with local communities to develop strategies that would be sustainable to achieve an effective green growth agenda within the continent.
“No one should be left behind in the green agenda in Africa”. A group of CSOs stated.
While other CSOs are also calling on African leaders to prioritize the adoption of climate policies that promote an equitable phase-out of oil, gas, and coal projects on the African continent, among other things.
More than 13,000 Heads of State and delegates are attending the summit at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, including Ghana’s President Akufo-Addo, while other Ghanaian delegates include Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, Energy Minister, Mathew Opoku Prempeh and the Executive Director at the Environmental Protection Agency, Dr Henry Kokofu.
Cop 28 President Designate, Sultan Al Jaber and US’ climate envoy John Kerry are also attending the summit.
EXPECTED OUTCOME
At the end of the weeklong Climate Week and Summit, leaders will sign the Nairobi Declaration, a document setting out a common vision for achieving green growth on the continent to propel Africa’s economy and promote job creation as well as aid global decarbonization efforts.