It’s a few days until COP28 in the UAE. Africa leads the way in the international community’s preparations for COP28, with expectations that cut across regional boundaries and reflect the aspirations of a continent severely affected by climate change. The Conference of the Parties (COP) is an important forum for countries to convene, discuss, and decide how best to proceed with international climate action.
Africa’s voice reverberates in the corridors of international climate negotiations, from policies for climate adaptation to calls for fair resource allocation, encapsulating the urgency of collective action to protect the environment, promote resilience, and clear the path for a sustainable future.
African nations have joined in confronting the world: in order to promote rapid growth in climate adaptation and sustainable development, industrialized nations must immediately cooperate with the continent. Africa expects COP28 to deliver on both, having experienced too many climate summits that have resulted in consensus but not implementation.
Many experts are still debating the main conclusions of the first Africa Climate Summit, which took place in September 2023 in Kenya. This is especially true in light of Africa’s position ahead of the COP28 (28th Conference of the Parties) in the United Arab Emirates. Reframing Africa as a continent that is “being helped” instead of “being partnered with” to take measures for global advantages was the main goal of the summit agenda.
Displaying an Africa that is aiming at a climate-positive development strategy and that sees itself as an integral component of the global climate solutions framework was the explicit goal of the Africa Climate Summit. Africa is ready for a more purposeful interaction with the remainder of the globe as the world awaits COP28. The continent is very interested in the main topical topics being discussed at COP28 because they pertain to the implementation of the NDC.
African delegates are expected to concentrate on loss and damage, climate finance, and energy transitions as they get ready for COP28. Many are now focusing on determining the necessary actions to guarantee that the upcoming climate summit yields multifaceted climate action. More funds and assets for infrastructure, agriculture, and water management, as well as other climate adaptation measures, are expected to be prioritized by African nations.
They’ll probably also encourage other nations to have higher ambitions when it comes to climate change. They’ll demand aggressive targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions, the use of renewable energy sources, and low-carbon technologies, and stronger action from developed nations to aid developing nations financially and technologically.
In addition, they will mention issues of climate justice and equality, stating that wealthy nations ought to bear the primary responsibility for reducing global warming and supporting the most vulnerable populations in the Global South.
The African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN) has committed to multi-stakeholder interactions ahead of the COP28 climate change discussions in order to create a cohesive position on Africa’s development objectives and climate change.
At COP28, the Global Stocktake will also conclude. The UAE and its participants must admit the mistakes made in previous COPs and put the welfare of the planet above self-serving national interests if they hope for COP28 to achieve meaningful progress.
In the spirit of shared responsibility, COP28 provides a chance for countries all over the world to take Africa’s expectations seriously, establish cross-border partnerships, and work together to create a future that is sustainable and climate resilient. The choices we make now and the promises we make will have an impact on future generations and determine the course of our shared environmental stewardship.
Africa has global imperatives for COP28; these are not merely regional agenda items. They call on everyone to take urgent action, to close gaps, and to work together to build a future in which ecosystems flourish, climate justice is achieved, and humanity as a whole protects the rare gift of a habitable planet.
