Baku, Azerbaijan: Stakeholders Explored the nexus between Climate security and NCQG in the IGAD Region

The new collective quantified goal remains a central topic of discussion at the ongoing 29th Conference of Parties (COP) being held in Baku, Azerbaijan. This COP, known as the Climate COP, is expected to explore new financial avenues to address climate finance needs as the world transitions from the second generation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) to the third version.

As Africa grapples with the unprecedented impacts of climate change, the IGAD region is also facing significant challenges related to climate security. To enhance the dialogue on leveraging the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) and the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) to transform the climate security context in the IGAD region, discussions were held to assess the adequacy of the proposed indicators in addressing climate security issues. Additionally, participants explored measures and mechanisms to catalyze climate finance flows to support climate security actions in the region.

Convened by PACJA partners, the discussions focused on mechanisms to advance climate security in relation to the GGA and NCQG. Malesi Shivaji from the Kenya Water and Sanitation Civil Society Network (KEWASNET) highlighted that the region is already experiencing vulnerability and stands out as one of the most affected by climate insecurity. He stated, “When you look at climate insecurity, you can see that it is largely represented by water scarcity. Additionally, when there is precipitation, it can lead to excesses. Therefore, it’s critical to view water as a key issue in the context of climate insecurity.”

Southern Africa is one of the regions most impacted by disasters, and despite efforts for adaptation, these often fail to translate into concrete actions due to financial constraints. Julius Ng’oma from Malawi emphasized the need for innovation to transform plans into investments. “We must translate our plans into investment strategies, supported by public sources of financing, especially for the climate-related impacts we face in the southern region and throughout the IGAD region,” Julius commented.

Young climate advocate Elizabeth Wathuti stressed the importance of including youth in decision-making processes regarding the GGA and NCQG, going beyond mere representation. “Youths are among the most affected by social and economic hardships and extreme climate events, leading to increased unemployment among young people. Furthermore, despite being the largest demographic, our youth are actively driving the solutions needed to address climate-related impacts,” Elizabeth stated.

As of March 2022, the IGAD region is home to 4.5 million refugees and 12 million internally displaced persons, with climate security being a contributing factor. Key elements influencing climate-related conflict dynamics in the region include resource scarcity, loss of livelihoods, migration, food security challenges, and political fragility and instability.