By Hannah Getachew

Formally known as the 26^th Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), COP26 is taking place in Glasgow, Scotland from 31 October to 12 November 2021. It marks five COPs and six years since the Paris Agreement entered into force. In Paris, parties to the UNFCCC committed “to limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.”[1] At this conference, 197 countries gather to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UNFCCC.

They have their work cut out for them. At the opening ceremony, Patricia Espinosa, the Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change said “we are on track for a global temperature rise of 2.7C, while we should be heading for the 1.5C goal. Clearly, we are in a climate emergency.”[2]

Since 1995, African countries have been negotiating as a team through the African Group of Negotiators, which serves “as an alliance of African member states that represents the  interests of the region in the international climate change negotiations, with a common and unified voice.”[3] With 54 countries under one umbrella, it begs the question – what are the priorities for Africa at COP26?

According to the Chair of the African Group, Tanguy Gahouma of Gabon “COP26 must recognize that while Africa is one of the regions that contributes the least to climate change, only 4% of the total global emission, the continent is extremely vulnerable and exposed to the adverse impacts of climate change.”[4] It is recognition of this extreme vulnerability that is desperately sought after. COP26 should “address the special needs and circumstances of Africa” says Gahouma.

Climate finance is a priority for Africa at COPs as it is a prerequisite for climate action. At COP15 in 2009, developed countries committed to contributing $100 billion a year by 2020 to facilitate the climate action of developing countries. Yet the OECD has reported that the total amount of climate finance mobilised in 2019 fell short of that target by $20.4 billion.[5] Although data is not yet available on 2020 contributions, given the Covid-19 pandemic, it is unlikely that developed countries as a collective met the $100 billion annual target.

This $100 billion target is set to run until 2025 under the Paris Agreement – a deadline fast approaching. COP26 must deliver on a plan to ensure the promised funds are delivered, and begin negotiations for climate finance post-2025. Gahouma is calling for a ten-fold increase in annual funding to developing countries to the tune of $1 trillion a year.[6]

Addressing the financial promises of the global North, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said “We want your more developed economies that have been responsible for the greatest emissions in the world, to be the ones who will live up to the offers they have made in the past. Once they do that, we will then be able to navigate our own transition.”[7]

It is based on the promise of climate finance that African countries have submitted conditional projects under their Nationally Determined Contributions, the platform through which countries share their climate plans. These actions tend to be the most ambitious proposals, but they require grants to implement.

When it comes to the climate crisis and ecological breakdown, there is no time to waste. Representatives at COP26 must internalize that just like Covid-19, climate change knows no borders. We are in this together.

Sources

[1] https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-agreement

[2] https://unfccc.int/news/greater-ambition-now-critical-as-un-climate-change-conference-opens

[3] https://africangroupofnegotiators.org/

[4] https://twitter.com/AGNChairUNFCCC/status/1453375418761887745

[5] https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/docserver/03590fb7-en.pdf?expires=1635792837&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=828DED428F44E86483264C3C9DF8FA9C

[6] https://www.theafricareport.com/141923/cop26-we-cannot-just-ask-african-countries-to-stop-exploiting-their-coal-oil-and-gas/

[7] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-10-01/south-african-president-ramaphosa-to-skip-climate-conferenc