Cross-Network platform on COP27 meets in Ethiopia, to engage AU Summit Heads

Leading voices on climate justice in Africa are gathered in Addis Ababa , Ethiopia in a side event to the 35h African Union Summit to extend outreach and interact with the delegates and political leaders in a way that reinforces African CSOs collective role in shaping and influencing the AU on climate action.

In addition, the meeting is to exchange perspectives, and discuss key outcomes of Cairo’s “Roundtable on the COP27 Strategy”, and build on the proposed advocacy framework during the forum to agree on a collective roadmap in the countdown to Sharma-el-Sheikh. The climate justice activists also plan to concretise the proposal for an inclusive Platform that is balanced in terms of regions, sectors, thematic areas and gender, and underpinning the centrality of African people, both as victims of climate change and stewards of critical ecosystem pillars.

The meeting comes against various challenges that faces Africa. In addition to the AU’s financing agenda, the COVID-19 pandemic and coup d’états[1] in various countries which are likely to dominate the Summit, the COP27 and climate action is one of the most critical areas that is anticipated to take centre stage. These debates should not be viewed as separate, but as issues that are all inextricably linked, particularly with the body’s Agenda 2063 strategic development blueprint, whose implementation is crucial for achieving the continent’s economic advancement and social development, political stability and regional integration.

This consultative forum follows PACJA’s tradition of strategic convenings, which helps to not only interact with key stakeholders attending the AU Summits, but also ensuring our standpoints and recommendations inform the decisions made by the leaders.

This is part of our long-term strategy to proactively engage key African political leaders in the Agenda 2063 implementation, primarily informed by African people’s realities and aspirations. It is our conviction that other ambitious sustainable development global strategies, including Agenda 2030 of the United Nations, ought to remain complimentary, and should be driven by the region’s resource local knowledge systems, with Africa taking leadership of its development aspirations and integrating knowledge and practices from external forces ignorant of the continent’s context.

Coming at the critical moment of reflections when our dreams for the recognition of the African continent as a special circumstances and needs region during the COP26, the side event is crucial in galvanizing critical groups – especially government representatives – to exchange views and address the nagging question of disjointedness when pursuing Africa’s interests in international dialogue on climate action. Concerns have been raised on the deteriorating relationship among African negotiators, whose efforts have deliberately been fragmented over years based on language, geographical and “identity” basis.  

 Calls have remained louder on Africa’s need to remain unified, with the Committee of Heads of States and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) providing political leadership, while the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), should step in and consistently provide guidance to the technical experts under African Group of Negotiators (AGN).

Non-State Actors such as the civil society, private sector, UN Agencies, Youth and women should rally behind the African position, but may not do this harmoniously. Minimum elements and rules of the engagement game should be drawn so that synergy and complementarity are maximized.

This will only be achieved through robust engagement, not only by convenings during strategic moments like AU Summits, but also outreach to strategic individuals relevant to the goal and objectives we seek to achieve.

Critical analysis and periodic assessment of the processes will ensure that we are able to advance evidence-based standpoints and positions to political leaders. This was the case after COP26, whose analysis commissioned by PACJA demonstrates that[2]:

• Though the Glasgow Climate Pact failed to meet Africa’s aspirations and expectations, it have several consequential new items as part of the global climate agenda – such as the commitment to ‘phase down’ some fossil fuels, the promise to increase finance for adaptation and the final rules for international carbon markets – which creates some hope for the continent if a strong advocacy strategy is put in place and implemented at international level for Africa.
• Climate change is all-encompassing and borderless, and therefore the the issue should be at the centre of everything, particularly the AU’s theme of 2022, ‘Building resilience in nutrition on the African continent: Accelerate the human capital, social and economic development’ centres food security which depends on climate change, with more than 50% of the continent’s agriculture being rainfed[3], calls for increased regional integration and cooperation.
• The promise for increased climate financing is welcome. Still, the continent should have cautious optimism, and African countries should strengthen their capacity to monitor and track climate funding available to the continent independently.
• Given the drive and commitments to ‘phase down’, Africa should have mechanisms of making sure that African countries take advantage of their abundant fossil fuel resources before they become unattractive and unmarketable globally.

In addition to accelerating NDCs implementation and drumming up support for key African priorities, COP27 will build on the achievements already made in elevating adaptation (and loss & damage) in global conversations towards the transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient development pathways.

Objectives

Expected outcomes:

• Consensus built on a collective approach to, and strategy for climate justice campaign for Africa, building on Cairo Roundtable outcomes;
• Strengthened capacity, knowledge and information on the Advocacy Strategy, the key targets, including communication;
• A deepened appreciation of the political economy of climate justice in Africa, the role of the strategic African stakeholders and how this can be strengthened;
• Enhanced networking and synergy across geographies – a vibrant coalition of the willing representing all sectors/themes – indigenous groups, women’s and youths movements, smallholder producers, and organisations working on Africa’s climate justice for solidarity and support in the struggle.

[1] Three countries, Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso are under military juntas, raising concerns among observers on this spiraling trend of democratic meltdown. 

[2] Ahead of the Cairo Roundtable, PACJA commissioned two Papers to analyse the outcomes of COP26 and their effects on the African continent. They were presented and informed the outcomes of the Roundtable.

[3] https://agra.org/irrigation-doubles-african-food-production/#:~:text=Although%20irrigation%20in%20Africa%20has,continent%20is%20almost%20entirely%20rainfed.