COP29: African CSOs met with the Africa Group of Negotiators

At the sidelines of COP29, currently taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan, African civil society organizations, united under the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), held a meeting with the Africa Group of Negotiators (AGN), led by AGN chair Ambassador Ali Mohammed. It is a tradition for PACJA’s civil society organizations to meet with the AGN at each COP to receive updates on the progress of negotiations, particularly regarding agendas adopted by Africa as a continent.

Ahead of COP29 Africa Group of  Negotiators created a Common Position for Africa in discussions which focused on the Global Goal on Adaptation, Climate Finance, Transboundary Climate Adaptation Risks, and Gender.

During the briefing meeting, the AGN Chair informed that discussions are progressing slowly on certain agendas, such as finance, which was not addressed, though negotiations and dialogues continue.

“Our partners want to see new targets and new obligations kind of being discussed. So that entire provides the implementation of those which the other partners are saying have not been provided for, and it is not our view that that is accurate because the provisions, for example, the adaptation issues have been discussed under the UAE – Belém work program. Issues of mitigation have been discussed in the mitigation work program has also been discussed. The issue of finance has not been discussed except for one dialogue that is provided for. So really that was the main contention during assembly. That’s why the conference was delayed”, Amb Ali Informed.

The UAE-Belem work programme was adopted at COP28  as the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) framework, termed the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience.  It is under this framework a two-year UAE-Belém Work Programme (paragraph 39 of Decision CMA.5) on indicators has been established to develop indicators and methodologies for measuring the targets identified in paragraphs 9 and 10 of  Decision 2/CMA.5.

 However, in this briefing meeting with the AGN Chair,  it was highlighted that financial issues in the current negotiations remain contentious and the African Negotiators are advocating for discussions that focus on concrete implementation and ambitious goals.

“The whole issue of UAE dialogue should look at matters of finance because indeed ambition must go hand in hand with the ambition of implementation, ambition of action without commission, and ambition of implementation, then really there’s nothing much”, said Amb Ali Mohammed, the AGN Chair.

Responding to CSOs question on Financing  Systems that are not functioning fairly when it comes to Africa, the AGN Chair explained that this has been working against the developing countries especially Africa despite efforts by African heads of state to change the system’s functioning.

“There’s a bigger picture that our heads of state and government have been pushing to change, the whole issue of reforming international financial systems, international financial architecture which was put in place 80 years ago, this year, eight years ago.  So, a system that has been put in place once we did not exist as independent countries and governments has continued to be used against us. It has disadvantages in all respects. And the push by our leadership is that system, that unfair system must be replenished.  We don’t want favours. That should be a message. No, Africa doesn’t need favours. We need fairness only”, Stressed Amb. Ali Mohammed.

Augustine Njamnshi, the Chair of Political and Technical Affairs, PACJA, said that these updates are key for African CSOs to be able to understand what is going on in negotiations.

“Our key purpose, which is transparency and accountability, not just of those who represent us in these negotiations amid the African Group of Negotiators, but also our own accountability to them because we have a slogan, One Africa, one voice, one position in this forest, or what I would call jungle called negotiations,”  said Augustine Njamnshi.

Key points  noted from the AGN updates on  the current status of negotiations at COP29

1. Contentious Issues: There are ongoing debates regarding the UAE dialogue and the need for financial discussions to align with ambitious climate action. African representatives argue that implementation must accompany ambition, emphasizing the importance of finance in achieving climate goals.
2. Mitigation Work Program (MWP): The MWP is focused on sharing experiences and learning rather than setting new targets. However, there is pressure from developed nations to introduce new targets, which African representatives resist unless accompanied by commitments to climate finance.
3. Financial Needs: African nations propose a significant increase in climate finance, suggesting a need for $1.3 trillion, contrasting with previous commitments of $100 billion. The discussions highlight the importance of fair financial structures without unnecessary layers that complicate access.
4. Fairness in International Systems: There is a strong call for reforming international financial systems that are perceived as unfairly structured against developing nations. The emphasis is on fairness rather than favours, advocating for a system that provides equitable opportunities.
5. Santiago Network: he said that negotiations also touch on the hosting of the Santiago Network Secretariat, with African representatives pushing for it to be based in Nairobi. There are concerns about transparency and fairness in the decision-making processes regarding its location.