PACJA, African CSOs  to call for a physical COP26

African civil society organisations (CSO) want climate change negotiations, particularly the 26^th Conference of Parties (COP26) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to hold physically, amid growing concern that virtual meetings will marginalise African voices, needs and interests.

The Africa Group of Negotiators (AGN), which conveys and defends African interests in UNFCCC-led international climate change dialogues, has also rejected virtual climate negotiations on similar grounds.

During an online event to draw lessons from the first virtually held sessions of the subsidiary bodies (SB) and an SB Hub organised by the AGN, participants said many factors, including restricted power supply, unreliable internet connectivity and weak access to the right technologies mean Africans cannot fully and effectively participate in virtual climate decision-making. COP26 is set for Glasgow, UK, later this year.

Despite African opposition to virtual negotiations, there is a strong likelihood that COP26 and future UNFCCC processes could be virtual.

At the online meeting convened by PACJA Ambassador Tosi Mpanu Mpanu, the Chair of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) said in-person negotiations were paramount for Africa.

”When you negotiate, a good chunk of that negotiation takes place out of the negotiation room. When there are stalemates, normally, people grab each other for one on one chats, and many times, these informal engagements are what break such stalemates. But this is not an option in a virtual COP. The physical meeting offers that interactive and emotional touch,” he said.

He added that a physical COP will ensure that Africa’s interests are protected and prevent others from deciding “for Africa without Africa”.

James Murombezi, Director of the Africa Climate Change Policy Centre at the UN Commission for Africa said COP26 is very important for Africa as it will address, among others, the operationalization of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which spells out how markets can mobilise resources for adaptation. He noted the reason for COPs must not be forgotten. COPs are designed to facilitate discussions and facilitate agreements among parties. “It will be a defeatist of the UNFCCC if such facilitative process is not actualized”.

Alpha Oumar Kaloga a climate negotiator from Guinea  and Technical Advisor, Green Climate Fund noted Africa will be very keen on how the west will go about tackling the issue of the USD100 billion commitments to tackle the climate impact.  

Rich countries, the most responsible for the climate crisis, committed during COP 16to raising $100-billion a year by 2020 to support less developed countries. This commitment has remained largely unfulfilled.

Developing countries rightly consider it essential for securing progress and meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement. It is the bedrock of international climate finance, underpinning international agreement and cooperation on climate action. In highlighting the deepening climate emergency at the UN Climate Action Summit in September 2019, the UN Secretary-General underscored the pivotal importance of scaling up and accelerating the delivery of international public finance.

Mithika Mwenda, the Executive Director of PACJA said non-verbal communication was a part of the negotiations at COP and is as critical as verbal communication, but will be absent during remote engagements.

Kenyan environmental activist Wanjira Mathai, of the Wangari Mathai Foundation, said the inadequate vaccination against COVID-19 puts Africa is in a difficult situation as that could be used to advance the virtual meeting yet, as the things are, the world is witnessing vaccine inequality and inequity. “There will be no compromise on an inclusive and equitable COP,” she said.