African Climate negotiators challenge developed countries as Egypt meet ends

Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, 16^th June 2021: African negotiators on climate change have called on the developed countries to raise their ambitions on climate action under the Paris Agreement   and fulfill their pre-2020 mitigation and finance promises.

In a statement issued from Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt by the chair of the African Group of Negotiators (AGN), African negotiators  demanded that the developed countries must lead the way to addressing the climate crisis by fulfilling their obligations as a show of good faith and trust building ahead of 26^th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention of Climate Change (COP26) set for 30 October to-12 November 2021 in Glasgow, UK.

The AGN also raised concerns about the lack of priority given to agenda items on adaptation, technology development and transfer and loss and damage, which are pertinent to Africa, during the May-June sessions.

According to the Government of Gabon that now Chairs the African Group, subsidiary bodies to the UNFCCCC have yet to come out clearly on areas of concern for Africa.

For example, Gabon noted that the support provided by financial entities to agriculture is far lower than  the needs of African countries to increase adaptation actions on the ground, ensure food security, and generate the expected co-benefits.

The AGN also reiterated its opposition to virtual negotiations, which it noted did make negotiations easy.

“It —technology–is noticeably impacting our work and limiting contributions from Parties. It is important to address these challenges before Glasgow through exploring additional physical session to consider the mandates of SB 54 and 55 and address the delayed work”, the statement said.

Africa is currently going through period of multiple crises due to the spread of COVID-19 and its amplifying effect on climate vulnerabilities and other developmental challenges.Download the statement by clicking here