As world leaders put together to convene in Antalya, Türkiye, for the thirty first session of the Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) says it will push for elevated climate finance, together with an formidable replenishment of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), amongst other priorities.
The group mentioned securing satisfactory and predictable climate finance, significantly grant-based and concessional funding, could be central to Africa’s negotiating priorities at the convention.
This was disclosed by the AGN Chair, Nana Antwi-Boasiako, on the sidelines of the pre-COP31 conferences on Friday.
The AGN is a coalition of climate change negotiators representing all 54 African countries at the UNFCCC and other worldwide environmental negotiations. Nigeria is a member of the group and will negotiate beneath its umbrella at COP31.
Nigeria’s delegation and technical assist is predicted to be led by the Nigeria Council on Climate Change Director General, Omotenioye Majekodunmi.
In a speech recorded and revealed on the AGN’s social media platforms forward of the formal graduation of COP31, scheduled to carry from 9 to twenty November, Mr Antwi-Boasiako mentioned African countries would search stronger monetary commitments to assist the implementation of their climate targets and adaptation plans.
According to him, the continent has made appreciable progress in establishing the buildings wanted to implement the Paris Agreement, however insufficient financing stays a serious impediment.
He cited progress in growing Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), carbon market mechanisms beneath Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, National Adaptation Plans and the Enhanced Transparency Framework.
However, he mentioned many growing countries have been struggling to implement their climate commitments due to monetary constraints.
“All these issues are structures that are going to support implementation. The key question now is: Where is the money? Where is the financial ambition to help us implement those commitments that we are making as developing countries?” the AGN chair mentioned.
He famous that the group had submitted proposals for agenda gadgets on tripling adaptation finance and replenishing the Green Climate Fund, describing each as vital to advancing climate motion throughout African countries.
He defined that the proposed agenda merchandise on adaptation finance was supposed to supply a chance to make clear and set up operational preparations for implementing the choice reached at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, to triple adaptation finance.
The group additionally needs COP31 to assist an formidable replenishment of the Green Climate Fund subsequent yr, describing the power as significantly vital for financing climate motion in African countries.
COP31: From consensus to motion
COP31 is predicted to give attention to translating climate commitments into concrete motion, with an emphasis on implementation.
The summit will function beneath an uncommon shared management association, with Türkiye internet hosting the convention whereas Australia leads the negotiations. Its overarching slogan, “Where Dialogue Becomes Global Action”, displays the ambition to maneuver past climate pledges in the direction of sensible implementation.
Beyond the proposed agenda gadgets, the African negotiating bloc is looking for to defend the present monetary obligations of developed countries beneath the Paris Agreement.
Mr Antwi-Boasiako mentioned Africa was not against increasing the contributor base for climate finance however insisted that such an association should not be used to weaken the obligations of developed countries.
Citing Article 9 of the Paris Agreement, he defined that Article 9.1 establishes the duty of developed-country events to supply monetary sources to assist growing countries, whereas Article 9.2 supplies for contributions from other countries which are ready to take action.
He argued that developed countries should reveal management by fulfilling their present commitments earlier than looking for further contributions from other countries.
“You cannot abandon your obligations and use something that is not an obligation to replace your obligation,” he mentioned.
The AGN chair disclosed that two insurance policies had not too long ago been adopted at a Green Climate Fund Board assembly forward of the fund’s subsequent replenishment. One considerations grant-based contributions, whereas the other addresses the growth of the contributor base.
The group hopes the replenishment course of will reveal management from developed countries earlier than other countries are inspired to contribute.
He additionally recognized disagreements between developed and growing countries over climate finance as a serious political divide within the negotiations.
While growing countries are demanding credible, predictable and scaled-up grant-based financing, developed countries have cited geopolitical tensions and home financial difficulties as constraints on their skill to extend monetary contributions.
Mr Antwi-Boasiako, nevertheless, questioned the justification for these funding constraints, arguing that developed countries had demonstrated their skill to mobilise substantial sources when other priorities, together with power safety, have been at stake.
Africa seeks equitable power transition
The African Group can be looking for progress on the Just Transition Mechanism, insisting that its implementation should replicate the continent’s growth realities.
Mr Antwi-Boasiako mentioned the mechanism ought to transcend an energy-focused method to handle employees’ welfare, pure useful resource administration, power poverty and the broader financial implications of the transition.
He warned towards an method that would go away African economies worse off by forcing them to desert sources they nonetheless want for growth.
“For the African continent, we think that the transition away from fossil fuels must happen in a more equitable manner. We have a continent that has other challenges. And so we cannot allow our natural resources to be stranded when we need those resources to develop,” he mentioned.
He acknowledged that discussions on the transition away from fossil fuels have been persevering with however famous that there was no formal negotiated agenda merchandise particularly addressing the problem.
Rather, the discussions have been being pursued by a roadmap developed by the COP Presidency outdoors the formal negotiation course of.
The AGN’s place, nevertheless, is that countries with increased emissions and better ranges of air pollution ought to lead the transition earlier than other countries observe.
Mr Antwi-Boasiako pressured that the method have to be designed to forestall financial hardship in growing countries.
“It is not just energy transition, but transitioning where we are able to make sure that our economies don’t suffer within the transition,” he mentioned.
Climate and commerce, other priorities
The African negotiating bloc can be looking for discussions on climate and commerce, significantly the implications of unilateral commerce measures that would undermine the progress of growing countries.
Mr Antwi-Boasiako mentioned the group was working to safe the adoption of its proposed agenda merchandise to create room for negotiations on the connection between climate insurance policies and worldwide commerce.
He additionally expressed concern about initiatives launched beneath the COP Presidency’s motion agenda with out satisfactory session with events.
While the AGN doesn’t oppose initiatives led by the presidency, he mentioned such programmes shouldn’t be launched into formal negotiation texts with out correct session and party-driven processes.
The group additionally needs to strengthen the participation of younger Africans in climate negotiations by capacity-building programmes that may put together a brand new era of negotiators.
READ ALSO: CBD COP17: Why African countries struggle to mobilise biodiversity funding – AfDB official
COP31 as basis for COP32
The AGN described COP31 as an vital alternative to strengthen Africa’s negotiating place forward of COP32, which will be hosted by Ethiopia subsequent yr.
Mr Antwi-Boasiako mentioned the group had commenced pre-sessional coordination conferences in Antalya on 1 November, adopted by engagements with nationwide focal factors and other African delegates.
The group can be partaking other negotiating blocs throughout the Group of 77 and China to safe broader assist for its proposed agenda gadgets forward of the formal adoption of the COP31 agenda, scheduled for 9 November.
He mentioned Africa’s negotiating energy depended not solely on inner coordination but additionally on constructing consensus with other growing countries.
The AGN chair cited the continent’s contributions to the institution of the Green Climate Fund, the Loss and Damage Fund, and the inclusion of adaptation provisions within the Paris Agreement as examples of the group’s affect in worldwide climate negotiations.
The group additionally referred to as on civil society organisations and the media to assist amplify Africa’s priorities all through the convention.
Mr Antwi-Boasiako mentioned the result of COP31 ought to present a robust basis for the continent because it prepares to host the subsequent climate convention.
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