BY AKUDORO GLORIA
The African Union leaders on Sunday, advocated for a substantial increase of $1.3 trillion annually in climate finance for Africa.
Speaking during the high-level meeting at the 38th AU Summit, Chaired by Kenyan President, William Ruto chaired ahead of upcoming global climate negotiations, the leaders expressed concern over the outcome of the COP29 conference.
“Africa presented a unified voice at COP29, with strong participation from African leaders, ministers, and experts. While the conference made some progress on key issues such as climate finance, adaptation, and carbon markets, the outcomes fell short of Africa’s expectations,” Ruto said.
Ruto emphasized that the current pledge to mobilize $300 billion by 2035 represents just a fraction of what Africa requires to effectively address climate challenges.
The 38th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government, focused on justice and leadership elections. The summit themed: Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations”, opened Saturday at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.
On his part, the South African Minister, Dion George, highlighted his country’s upcoming G20 presidency as a crucial opportunity for advancing the continent’s environmental agenda.
“Through the G20, South Africa will continue to contribute to global efforts in tackling climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution,” George said.
In his remarks, the Kenyan Foreign Minister, Musalia Mudavadi, emphasized the necessity of continental unity on climate issues.
“It is imperative for African nations to speak with one voice on matters of debt and climate change. Our collective strength will ensure that our concerns are heard and addressed in international forums,” Mudavadi said.
Another speaker, Serah Makka of the ONE Campaign called for fundamental changes in how Africa’s wealth is calculated.
“Africa needs to recalibrate its economic metrics to truly reflect its wealth, including natural assets. This will not only improve our debt ratios but also attract sustainable investments,” Makka said.
The meeting concluded with a unanimous resolution to devise an all-encompassing climate finance strategy prior to the COP30 conference in Brazil.