DUBAI, UAE (PAMACC News) - Climate finance supports various climate change mitigation and adaptation activities, as well as efforts to enable the transition towards low-carbon, climate-resilient development environment stakeholders have stated at COP28 in Dubai.
The Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, PACJA who joined other stakeholders to clamour for the doubling of adaptation finance by industrialized countries also hammered on the need for private sector finance as catalyst for green growth in Africa.
“Mobilizing private sector financing for climate and green growth in Africa imperative. The should be crucial collaboration between banks and civil society to drive this agenda,” Mithika Mwenda, PACJA CEO said at side event relating to finance mobilization.
He notes that the continent holds immense potential for sustainable development, calling on the need for stakeholders to work together to better achieve positive results
Mithika also explored the pivotal role of civil society in driving meaningful change and stressing the importance of a united front for effective climate action.
Despite its growing political commitment toward green growth and its rich natural capital endowment, the continent lags behind other regions on many green growth dimensions, in particular on the provision of green economic opportunities, participants at the side event said.
Progress on efficient and sustainable resource use and on the promotion of social inclusion has not been sufficient to catch up with other world regions, it was noted. Thus the need to mobilize funds the meet these voids, it was resolved.
According to a document by the African Development Bank, Africa will require about $1.3 trillion annually to meet its sustainable development needs by 203 and thus to achieve green growth.
“Most of this finance is expected to be met through private finance. To meet these needs and given the current levels of public climate finance, private climate finance should increase by about 36 percent each year until 2030,” the document stated.
Leaders attending this year’s global climate change conference in Dubai urged a more global response to the continent’s adaptation financing needs to tackle the impact of climate change and build resilience.
Speaking during the Adaptation Finance Summit for Africa on the second day of the COP28, African leaders said climate adaptation funding, currently at 39% of all climate finance flows to Africa, must rapidly increase.
“ The climate adaptation funding for Africa is quite insufficient. It’s the responsibility of funding institutions and governments to provide the needed funds,” Kenyan President William Ruto said.
‘’The Nairobi Declaration adopted by the African leaders in September reimagines Africa’s future as a thriving, resilient continent that embraces Climate-Positive Growth. The essence and ambition of APRA are encapsulated in this. We need a holistic approach that delivers on both climate and development priorities, tailored to our needs and communities. We need plans that account for all elements: starting with infrastructure, through policy and regulation to institutional and human capacity,” he declared.
The high-level session also included Comoros President and African Union Chairman Azali Assoumani, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Senegalese President Macky Sall, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron, African Development Bank Group President Dr Akinwumi Adesina, and philanthropist Bill Gates.
In his remarks, the President of the African Development Bank Group, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, highlighted initiatives by the institution in response to the climate adaptation needs of Africa, including the launch of a Climate Action Window to mobilise up to $14 billion to support adaptation for 37 low-income countries.
According the African Development Bank, many investment opportunities in climate action and green growth could unlock private finance despite the barriers observed in Africa. It notes that “sectors that will rely on climate-smart and lowcarbon technologies such as renewable energies and electric vehicles, energy-efficient buildings, climate-resilient infrastructure, improved dryland crop production, and water resource resilience—present Africa’s trillion-dollar market opportunities for the private sector.”
He recommends the implementation of appropriate regulatory, policy, and institutional frameworks as essential for turning these sectors into booming markets for private investors.
“Sustainable development, economic growth, and climate action are critical for Africa, and achieving them requires commitments to green growth,” AfDB boss said.
To help support smallholder farmers in Africa who are facing severe consequences from global warming, the Gates Foundation, the charitable foundation of Microsoft founder Bill Gates, and the UAE together committed $200 million.
DUBAI, UAE (PAMACC News) - Climate finance supports various climate change mitigation and adaptation activities, as well as efforts to enable the transition towards low-carbon, climate-resilient development environment stakeholders have stated at COP28 in Dubai.
The Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, PACJA who joined other stakeholders to clamour for the doubling of adaptation finance by industrialized countries also hammered on the need for private sector finance as catalyst for green growth in Africa.
“Mobilizing private sector financing for climate and green growth in Africa imperative. The should be crucial collaboration between banks and civil society to drive this agenda,” Mithika Mwenda, PACJA CEO said at side event relating to finance mobilization.
He notes that the continent holds immense potential for sustainable development, calling on the need for stakeholders to work together to better achieve positive results
Mithika also explored the pivotal role of civil society in driving meaningful change and stressing the importance of a united front for effective climate action.
Despite its growing political commitment toward green growth and its rich natural capital endowment, the continent lags behind other regions on many green growth dimensions, in particular on the provision of green economic opportunities, participants at the side event said.
Progress on efficient and sustainable resource use and on the promotion of social inclusion has not been sufficient to catch up with other world regions, it was noted. Thus the need to mobilize funds the meet these voids, it was resolved.
According to a document by the African Development Bank, Africa will require about $1.3 trillion annually to meet its sustainable development needs by 203 and thus to achieve green growth.
“Most of this finance is expected to be met through private finance. To meet these needs and given the current levels of public climate finance, private climate finance should increase by about 36 percent each year until 2030,” the document stated.
Leaders attending this year’s global climate change conference in Dubai urged a more global response to the continent’s adaptation financing needs to tackle the impact of climate change and build resilience.
Speaking during the Adaptation Finance Summit for Africa on the second day of the COP28, African leaders said climate adaptation funding, currently at 39% of all climate finance flows to Africa, must rapidly increase.
“ The climate adaptation funding for Africa is quite insufficient. It’s the responsibility of funding institutions and governments to provide the needed funds,” Kenyan President William Ruto said.
‘’The Nairobi Declaration adopted by the African leaders in September reimagines Africa’s future as a thriving, resilient continent that embraces Climate-Positive Growth. The essence and ambition of APRA are encapsulated in this. We need a holistic approach that delivers on both climate and development priorities, tailored to our needs and communities. We need plans that account for all elements: starting with infrastructure, through policy and regulation to institutional and human capacity,” he declared.
The high-level session also included Comoros President and African Union Chairman Azali Assoumani, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Senegalese President Macky Sall, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron, African Development Bank Group President Dr Akinwumi Adesina, and philanthropist Bill Gates.
In his remarks, the President of the African Development Bank Group, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, highlighted initiatives by the institution in response to the climate adaptation needs of Africa, including the launch of a Climate Action Window to mobilise up to $14 billion to support adaptation for 37 low-income countries.
According the African Development Bank, many investment opportunities in climate action and green growth could unlock private finance despite the barriers observed in Africa. It notes that “sectors that will rely on climate-smart and lowcarbon technologies such as renewable energies and electric vehicles, energy-efficient buildings, climate-resilient infrastructure, improved dryland crop production, and water resource resilience—present Africa’s trillion-dollar market opportunities for the private sector.”
He recommends the implementation of appropriate regulatory, policy, and institutional frameworks as essential for turning these sectors into booming markets for private investors.
“Sustainable development, economic growth, and climate action are critical for Africa, and achieving them requires commitments to green growth,” AfDB boss said.
To help support smallholder farmers in Africa who are facing severe consequences from global warming, the Gates Foundation, the charitable foundation of Microsoft founder Bill Gates, and the UAE together committed $200 million.
Climate and health: building consensus on a unified approach for post COP28 ACTION
By Friday Phiri
DUBAI, UAE (PAMACC News) - It is often said that environment and health are two sides of the same coin. The interdependence between environment and health cannot be ignored anymore as scientific evidence keeps highlighting that a poorly managed environment is a recipe for an increased disease burden across the globe.
For instance, it is a no brainer that poor sanitation is a leading cause of water borne-related diseases, just as the case is with increased antimicrobial resistance and cancers resulting from poor chemical and other hazardous waste management.
In recognition of the interplay between health and the environment, environmental and health experts have been working collaboratively to promote the one health concept—an integrated and unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems.
One health recognises that the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment (including ecosystems) are closely linked and interdependent.
While health, food, water, energy and environment are all wider topics with sector-specific concerns, the collaboration across sectors and disciplines contributes to protect health, address health challenges such as the emergence of infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and food safety and promote the health and integrity of ecosystems.
By linking humans, animals and the environment, One Health can help to address the full spectrum of disease control; from prevention to detection, preparedness, response and management – and contribute to global health security.
The approach can be applied at the community, sub-national, national, regional and global levels, and relies on shared and effective governance, communication, collaboration and coordination. Having the One Health approach in place makes it easier for people to better understand the co-benefits, risks, trade-offs and opportunities to advance equitable and holistic solutions.
As a consequence of poor environmental management, climate change has emerged as a major threat to global health,with the most vulnerable populations facing the greatest impact. Unfortunately, those who contribute least to the problem often suffer the most severe consequences.
It is estimated that around 824 million people globally are malnourished, of which 58.7 million children are in Africa. Additionally, millions in Africa lack basic water and sanitation, leading to significant child mortality from diarrhoea.It is further estimated that58% ofinfectiousdiseasesgloballyhavebeenintensifiedbychanges in climate.This has ripple effects on public health, economy, environment, and education. The situation is predicted to worsen with rising global temperatures, threateningprogresstowardstheSustainableDevelopmentGoals (SDGs) and Universal Health Coverage.
TheIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment report warns that climate change affects, both physical and mental health, and can exacerbate humanitarian crises, and recognises the need for action.Paragraph C.2 of the aforesaid report, states: “Deep, rapid and sustained mitigation and acceleratedimplementation of adaptation actions in this decade would reduce projected losses and damages forhumans and ecosystems, and deliver many co-benefits, especially for air quality and health.”
Thus, several efforts are underway to integrate health into the formal UNFCCC discourse and to gain political traction on the nexus of climate change and health. In recognition of the importance of health and for COP28 to recognise thealready severe and growing impacts of climate change on human health, the COP28 Presidency, working with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other partners organised the first ever health day in the history of COPs on day 4 of COP28 (3rd December, 2023).
The day brought together Ministers of Health and senior health delegates from over 100 countries. The Ministerial mobilized support for the COP28 Climate and Health Agenda and the ‘COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health’ that was unveiled on 2ndDecember at the World Climate Action Summit and endorsed by over 120 countries and over $1 billion of climate health financing was galvanized by partners.
Speaking on the day, COP28 Director-GeneralAmbassador Al Suwaidi noted: “While we build the energy system of tomorrow, we cannot ignore the needs of people today. We must rapidly protect and promote their health and well-being while improving the climate-resilience of healthcare systems and reduce climate-health risks.”
‘Protecting Lives and Livelihoods’ is one of four central pillars in the COP28 Presidency’s Action Agenda which focuses on people, nature, lives and livelihoods.
AMREF Health Africa, in collaboration with Africa CDC, Welcome Trust, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Pan African Justice Alliance for Climate Change (PACJA) and others, convened several stakeholder events to galvanise support for the health and climate change nexus.
The events were aimed at building consensus among Ministers of health in Africa on the key submissions and the common position to be presented during various COP sessions, as well as engage with the Africa Group of Negotiators and political leaders to carry forward key submissions in thedifferentnegotiationworkstreamsatCOP28.
Atthe African health ministerial round table, AMREF Health Africa,Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Githinji Gitahi, called for active involvement of health Ministers in the climate change discourse.
"It's unbelievable that we are here today. We thank the COP28 Presidency for dedicating a health day for Climate Health - the first ever in the history of COPs. We also appreciate the tireless efforts of the WHO, the health ministers and other key global health partners, in making the health day a reality," said Dr. Githinji.
And UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell emphasised the importance of recognising the interplay between climate change and health.
"Health is the human face of climate change," he said. "The air we breath should be free of harmful pollution. Our communities should be safe from the devastating effects of floods, droughts and heat waves.Transitioning away from fossil fuels can help us get there."
DUBAI, UAE (PAMACC News) - As COP 28 begins in Dubai, the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, PACJA is seeking for transparent and just measures to address climate change challenges.
At a press conference organized by civil society actors various speakersraised concerns on the credibility and trustworthiness of the different actors on the negotiation table.
“We need to amplify the voices of the vulnerable communities in this climate change talks, that of inclusiveness, transparency and justice . The developed countries and their leaders have to show real commitment and honour their pledges,” Dr Mithika Mwenda, PACJA CEO said at the press briefing.
The African Civil Society emphasizes the importance of fairness, openness, and impartiality. They firmly urge all stakeholders to adhere to these principles to ensure that the decisions made during COP28 UAE align with the global commitment to combat climate change.
“We need a leadership that reflects these values and upholds the promise of a collective effort in addressing environmental challenges. The interest of the vulnerable communities, women, youths, indigenous population have to be protected” notes Dr Augustine Njamnshi of PACJA and CEO ACSEA.
Meanwhile at side event by PACJA prior to the official opening of COP 28, civil society actors in a panel discussion called for greater and sustainable production of a variety of minerals that are central to de-carbonization in Africa.
“We have clear opportunities not only from the global green mineral boom but also from our domestic achievements, such as the African Continental Free-Trade Area to facilitate the development of regional value chains for our green economy products in Africa," says Dr Linus Mofor, Senior Environmental Affairs Officer African Climate Policy Centre, ACPC at the panel discussion
Africa experts say is home to multiple minerals. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), for example, produces over 70% of the world’s cobalt. DRC and Zambia together supply 10% of global copper while Mozambique and South Africa hold significant reserves of graphite, platinum metals, lithium and more.
Linus Mofor deplored the fact that about 70% of the Africa’s exports are unprocessed commodities, a situation that can change with the right policies that prioritise industrialization and value-addition in mining and other resource sectors.
GOOD NEWS AT OFFICIAL OPENING
However there was some good news at the official opening of COP 28.
The President of COP 28, announced loss and damage fund forvulnerable countries on the first day of the UN climate conference with a total commitment of over $420 million. The UAE host country and Germany took the lead contributing $100 million each to the fund.
“We’ve delivered history today. The first time a decision has been adopted on day 1 of any COP. And the speed at which we have done so is also historic. Getting this done demonstrates the hard work of so many, particularly members of the transitional committee who worked tirelessly to get us to this point. This is evidence that we can deliver. COP28 can deliver,” said Dr Sultan Al Jaber, president, COP28.
He said that the threshold today was to establish and operationalise a $200 million fund. “We reached north of $420 million and over the next couple of days, many more pledges are going to be made. I thank Germany, the UK, the EU, the US and Japan for their pledges earlier today,” he said.
The funds accordingly was first agreed upon during COP27, held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, and became operational on Thursday November 30,2023 following the agreement reached by parties during 5 transitional committee meetings.
He said the COP28 team approached this task in a completely different and unconventional way.
“The fact that we have been able to achieve such a significant milestone on the first day of this COP is unprecedented. This is historic. The fact that we were able to get the agenda voted and agreed on without any delay is unprecedented. We have been able to deliver what was promised in Sharm al Sheikh and activate and operationalise and pass the threshold have been associated with this fund is historic.”
For Madeleine Diouf Sarr, Chair of the Group of the 46 Least Developed Countries much is still expected as outcome of the ongoing COP 28.
“COP28 is a moment to take stock of progress towards achieving the goals we all set in Paris. But we know since then, emissions have kept increasing and the impacts of climate change have intensified. The world is not on track with efforts needed to adequately address this climate crisis and the window of opportunity for limiting temperature rise to 1.5°C is rapidly closing. A meaningful decision is needed at COP28 that provides a clear path forward for deep emissions reductions and scaled up finance, which governments are held accountable to,” said at opening event.
