Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry for Kenya, Cabinet Secretary, Adan Bare Duale, says the African continent has not received sufficient financial and technical support to effectively implement, track and report on their current Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) even as countries are building momentum towards a new set of NDCs.

Speaking when he officiated at the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN) COP29 Preparatory Meeting held from August 12 to 16, 2024, in Nairobi, Kenya, Duale said the lack of clarity on the amount of current and future funding, capacity building and technical support required to implement NDCs undermines the transparency of support framework under the Paris Agreement.

“As countries are building momentum towards a new set of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the African continent has not received sufficient financial and technical support to effectively implement, track and report on their current NDCs,” said Duale.

“We also lack clarity on the amount of current and future funding, capacity building and technical support required to implement our NDCs. This vagueness undermines the transparency of support framework under the Paris Agreement and should be prioritized in the upcoming negotiations,” he added.

Duale reiterated Africa’s climate-induced socio-economic challenges and outlined the continent’s priorities for COP29 scheduled for Baku, Azerbaijan in November 2024.

“African countries have seen major droughts and floods; storms and cyclones have intensified and become more frequent, while the financial and technical capacity of the continent to adapt to climate change and increasing climate and natural hazards continues to be limited,” he said, adding that by 2050, negative climate impacts could cost African countries up to $50 billion annually.

“Our priority, therefore, is to increase the ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change and foster climate resilience and low greenhouse gas emissions development, in a manner that does not threaten food production. A crucial and most urgent objective of this meeting is to prepare our common position paper for COP29. Firstly, finance will lie at the heart of climate diplomacy at COP29 as a critical enabler of climate action. Climate finance is flowing to the continent at an insufficient scale and in unequal directions. Securing a strong favourable finance deal at COP29 is therefore vital.”

Secondly, adaptation and loss and damage are another priority for Africa as climate impacts worsen. COP29 is a pivotal opportunity to prioritise adaptation and loss and damage and secure the necessary financial and technical assistance to close the adaptation finance gap.

AGN Chair and Kenya Climate Envoy, Ali Mohamed, who spoke at the meeting urged negotiators not to lose focus on Africa’s key priorities of finance and adaptation in the context of the continent’s sustainable development and poverty eradication agenda.

“As we deliberate, the bigger picture for us remains climate finance and adaptation as we strive to achieve our sustainable development objectives as a continent. It is clear that our development challenges, which include high poverty levels, poor access to energy, clean water, food security and primary health care amidst a debt crisis, are already being compounded by climate change. It follows therefore that finance is at the pinnacle of our challenges and must be addressed, even as we strive to meet our climate obligations,” he said.

The African common position for COP29 is envisaged to be presented to the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) and the Committee of African Heads of State on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) next month for consideration and adoption.
The common position includes elements that are considered a priority for Africa and for COP29, climate finance and adaptation rank top on the list.

Harsen Nyambe, Director for Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, African Union Commission, said: “Africa’s progress in achieving sustainable development hinges on its ability to tackle the climate crisis, which has a direct impact on the continent’s natural resource base. The African Union Commission is therefore keen to support and maintain Africa’s unity of purpose in climate conversations at a global level.”

Dr Rose Mwebaza, UNEP Africa Regional Director, said: “Africa’s unified position on climate finance, adaptation, and ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) reflects the continent’s unwavering commitment to sustainable development and resilience. The energy transition journey we embark on today is not just about shifting resources but redefining Africa’s future in a way that prioritises both people and the planet. UNEP looks forward to working with the Africa Group of Negotiators on Climate to enhance global support for a green inclusive climate resilient future.”

David Abudho, Regional Climate Justice Advisor, Oxfam in Africa, said: “In 2022, rich countries claimed that they over-delivered by reaching $115 billion of climate finance, but our analysis shows that only $35 billion was mobilised, less than a third of officially reported totals. Oxfam’s analysis shows that the reported figures are counted at face value instead of in grant equivalents, and they do not reflect the true financial effort of contributors. Climate finance continues to be dominated by loans (including a large share of non- concessional loans), contributing to the worsening debt crisis in many lower-income countries.

“Oxfam’s Climate Specific Net Assistance calculations therefore help ensure that the agreement on NCQG, to be adopted at COP29 in Baku later this year, does not repeat the mistakes of the $100 billion goal but instead enhances transparency and accountability over the actual effort undertaken by developed countries.”

Dr. Seif Hamisi, East Africa Director, Conservation International, said: “AGN is such an important voice in shaping the International Climate Regime under the UNFCCC. It is therefore important for the group to continue to use its strong position and voice to obtain the best possible outcomes for the people of Africa. As we go to COP29, we are keenly following key issues on the protection of natural resources in the African region and their importance to both climate change mitigation and adaptation. Of particular interest is the refinement of the rules guiding Carbon Markets under Article 6 and the implications for the region as well as the importance of leveraging natural climate solutions.”

Nihan Erdogan, Deputy Regional Director, International Organisation for Migration (IOM) East and Horn of Africa, said: “Despite contributing only about 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, Africa faces disproportionate impacts from climate change, affecting habitability, human security, and livelihoods. This has led to diverse movements, from temporary and long-term displacement to internal and international migration and planned community relocations. Those unable to move, trapped populations, also face increased vulnerability. In East and Horn of Africa, climate change is already the leading cause for migration.”