#COP26 Podcast on the Pre-2020 Commitments

30 October 2021 | In the lead-up to COP26, in Glasgow on 31 October – 12 November 2021, the International Gender Champions (IGC) Secretariat interviewed Joseph Mithika Mwenda, Executive Director of Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) and Alice Ruhweza, Africa Region Director of World Wide Fund for Nature International (WWF).

Listen to discover some of Africa’s unique needs and circumstances – as we explore priorities including climate finance, meeting pre-2020 mitigation commitments and reaching some of the most vulnerable and marginalised communities.

Mithika Mwenda, Executive Director of PACJA

• We need tangible evidence that money released is available for rural communities

“COP26 is an important moment to reflect on the implementation of the Paris Agreement, particularly the NDCs by different countries to address the climate crisis…we need evidence that money released is available for rural communities in form of tangible projects. Money is available on paper but not available in the communities. Where has the money gone?”

• Africa must be recognized as a special needs and circumstances region – This will enable African to get better resources, technology for addressing mitigation and adaptation, including resilience and capacity building. Such resources must reach critical groups like Persons with Disabilities, women, youth, and indigenous communities, among others.
• Loss and damage like unprecedented droughts related to CC and other disasters must be addressed.

• Most African households are supported by women-led enterprises but are not active in decision making
• Building resilience in African societies requires participation of all groups, including women and girls, who comprise more than 50% of the continental population
• Inequalities even at the corporate level must be addressed

• We must embrace Climate Justice principles to effectively address climate crisis
• The solution is with the people: Bottom-up, people-centred, gender-responsive, inclusive model of action is required: Actions and solutions must be driven by locally-led climate action by communities that are affected by climate change impacts as they understand their realities and challenges better.

Alice Ruhweza, Africa Region Director of World Wide Fund (WWW)

• Nations must increase ambitions and commitments while considering interdependency of issues

“In the absence of more ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and sector initiatives leading to drastic reduction in emissions by 2030 the world may still be locked into impact so severe that go beyond what nations can adapt to…we need more ambitious national climate plans and commitments from the large emitters.”- Alice Ruhweza

Recent scientific findings indicate the need for increased ambitions and commitments by global leaders include:

• Earth systems tipping points: Climate and nature agendas have to be handled together, not in silos. For example, it is important to consider how biodiversity laws, deforestation, desertification, melting of ice sheets, worsen impacts of climate change. In 2021, we have the Global Biodiversity Framework released in July and the Climate Conference of Parties (COP26) taking place from October 31 – these two agenda are related and should be merged as the impacts from one affect the other.

• Socio-economic issues: Climate change has the greatest impact on the most marginalized and poor African people like youth, women, indigenous people, which makes focus on adaptation to climate change even more important. Other related issues that need close attention include migration, displacement of people, climate-induced insecurity food insecurity that causes riots; refugees; typhoons that cause closure of ports that affect global supply chains,

• Climate finance must be released to flow into where it is needed most – to finance adaptation and mitigation initiatives.

• Need to expand networks of women leaders and change makers
• Women are at the centre of African communities, natural resource management and climate change impacts, but have not taken up their rightful leadership roles due to cultural barriers, especially due to lack of access to education.
• African youth, comprising about 75% of the continent, need to be prepared adequately to work towards sustainable development; by educating and mentoring them. A notable initiative, ‘Project Drawdown’ recommended education as a key action needed to limit catastrophic climate change.

• Success at COP26 depends on creation of a level playing field where all voices are heard
• African participants should have opportunities to present and discuss the unique issues that are important to our communities.
• The interconnectedness of nature and climate agenda must be considered eg. Heat waves and vector-borne diseases
• USD100 Billion pledge in climate finance must be honoured
• Must recognize the needs of the most affected by climate change – leave no one behind