Alex Rose-Innes
Victor Ongoma, assistant Professor at the Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique in Morocco and Portia Adade Williams, research scientist at the CSIR-Science and Technology Policy Research Institute in Ghana, are calling on delegates at the COP 26 meeting to allow Africa’s climate change challenges to steer the upcoming conference at the end of October.
The 26th session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate (COP) would take place this year while global temperatures had increased substantially and the effect is intensely felt across the African continent.
While Africa contributes less than 5% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, the continent carries the heaviest burden. Due to its poor financial, technological and adaptive structures to address climate change, Africa is predicted to suffer more than other continents from the effects of climate change. While already experiencing a higher than average increase in hot, extreme weather, scientists warned that the continent would also be at the mercy of more frequent and intense rainfall extremes.
Africa would suffer devastating impacts from the carbon dioxide emissions of industrialised countries such as China, the United States (US), India, Russia and Japan, which top the list of emission greenhouse gas emissions. The G20 countries account for 80% of greenhouse gas emissions with China alone emitting nearly 25% of the global emissions, closely followed by the US.
Food insecurity is already at its worst and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that sub-Saharan Africa are already losing more than USD 500 million annually due to climate change. The economic impact is estimated to rise into billions of dollars over the next two decades. In order to address climate change challenges, it would eventually cost Africa almost 5% of its Gross Domestic Product.
With COP26 providing the ideal platform, Victor Ongoma and Portia Williams made it clear that the needs of African countries should be taken seriously and shape the agenda.
Revisiting the 2015 Paris Agreement
The latest COP26 summit would once again bring all countries together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. With the main aim of limiting global warming to pre-industrial levels, countries across the world are working together to adapt to the devastating effects of climate change.
Developed nations had pledged to raise US$100 billion per year to support vulnerable countries, but the shortfall is still $20 billion and there is no clear plan on how this deficit would be overcome.
BLURB:
Leaders of African countries should approach the convention with a strong, unified voice, presenting their climate change concerns and needs – Ongoma and Williams
The authors had called for outcomes of COP26 to be in favour, not only of Africa, but other developing countries by ensuring faster and more accessible finance and re-commitment to boost non-financial efforts such as education.
Most African countries had already explored renewable energy resources towards reducing greenhouse gases emissions. Numerous carbon sequestration initiatives had already been established with eco-sustainable investments across the continent.
Morocco had taken the global lead in solar energy production, saving the world more than 760,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually. Harnessing of geothermal energy in Kenya is another initiative to support the country’s carbon dioxide emissions by 32% by 2030.
African countries are playing their part. However it rests on the shoulders of all nations to stay committed and deliver on the Paris Agreement’s promise of a fair, equitable and robust response to climate change.
