PACJA’s Response to US Return to Paris Climate Accord

Nairobi, January 21, 2021 – The Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) notes with satisfaction a raft of Executive Orders taken by the new president of the United States Joe Biden to re-join the Paris Agreement and begin the reversal of actions taken by his predecessor former President Donald Trump to roll back or weaken roughly 100 environmental regulations in the United States. The Executive Orders, constituting some of his first order of business, respond to our call urging him to honour his campaign promises, mark a departure from environmentally hostile Trump-era policies and signal America intention to resume leadership of the global effort to address the climate crisis and other environmental challenges.

In congratulating President Biden on the steps taken, PACJA and its 1000-strong membership of African grassroots movements, community and faith-based organisations, trusts and foundations, think tanks and research centres operating across 48 countries outline four actions President Biden must now take to strengthen American participation in addressing the climate crisis.

• Ramp up American climate action locally and set the example for other big emitters to follow

Re-joining the Paris Agreement is an important first step in moving the global community in the direction it ought to be heading. Without radical change, current commitment levels fall short of reaching the goal of limiting global warming at 2⁰ C, talks less 1.5⁰ C. The adaptation finance gap is equally not closing as fast as needed. Following a lull in global climate action due to COVID-19 and America’s initial withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, 2021 will be crucial in recharging lost momentum.

In a White House statement, President Biden declares that he embraces “every article and clause” of the Paris Agreement. These include the need for deep cuts in emissions that are enough to limit global warming at 1.5⁰C and availing resources to support communities on the frontline of climate change to adapt. As the president himself admits, re-joining the Paris Agreement will not be enough – strong legislation in the US will be needed to supply much needed American contributions. Re-enacting the Obama-era pledge to reduce 2005 levels of American emissions by 26 to 28% by 2025 should be the starting point. We call on Biden to increase this ambition to levels that reflect the urgency of reversing climate change and protecting vulnerable people.

• Strengthen American leadership and international cooperation globally

In leaving the Paris Agreement, the US undermined the universality of the climate deal and impaired states’ confidence in climate cooperation. It also aggravated the leadership deficit in addressing global climate issues and set a bad precedent for international climate cooperation (Zhang et al, 2017). But it was not the first time America let the world down. Despite the leading negotiations, the US failed to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and set off a series of departures, including that of Canada, whose leaders argued the absence of the US and China, the leading polluters made Canadian contribution insignificant. In mild terms, America’s role in international climate change negotiations has been disruptive, leading to delays and the weakening of global ambitions. Its return to the Paris Agreement inspires cautious optimism at best.

We, therefore, urge President Biden to exploit the supply of goodwill he now enjoys from global leaders to re-establish American leadership in addressing the climate crisis. Among other things, this leadership will be important to finalising the Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and encouraging other industrialised countries to increase their commitments. President Biden must marshal America’s historic good standing with the United Kingdom to deliver on the expectations of COP26; and use America’s influence on Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to speed decarbonisation globally, while increasing investments in the deployment of clean, sustainable, and accessible energy forms and systems, especially in developing countries.

• Make climate justice central to America’s climate policies

As we pointed out in an initial statement, American leadership in driving climate action is vital for several reasons. Alone, the US has cumulated more carbon dioxide emissions than any other country since the industrial revolution – making it responsible for more than a quarter of total global GHGs emissions in the world. This “historical responsibility” and its “ability to pay” makes American leadership vital for ambitious climate action – not only in meeting America’s quota to keep mean global temperature rise well under 2⁰ C but equally to support disproportionately vulnerable communities in Africa to adapt.

Currently, the estimate of annual adaptation costs in developing countries is US$70 billion, with the expectation of reaching US$140–300 billion in 2030 and US$280–500 billion in 2050. The most recent UNEP assessment concludes that “huge gaps remain in finance for developing countries and bringing adaptation projects to the stage where they bring real protection against climate impacts such as droughts, floods and sea-level rise”. Additionally, for most developing countries with limited responsibilities and resources, delivering NDC targets depend mostly on external resources, which are largely not forthcoming.

In leaving the Paris Agreement, former President Trump terminated US$3 billion to the Green Climate Fund. We urge the US to make significant contributions to all major funds set up to pay for climate action around the world, particularly the Adaptation Fund, and work through its bilateral institutions such as USAID to invest in local-led adaptation projects that directly improve the lives of some of the most vulnerable groups in Africa.

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About PACJA

Founded in 2008, the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance is the largest civil society consortium advancing people-centred, rights-based, locally led, just and inclusive approaches to addressing climate and environmental challenges in Africa. Its over 1000 strong membership is diverse, comprising grassroots movements, community-based organisations, NGOs, farmers and pastoralist groups, trusts, foundations and research centres operating across more than 48 African countries.

Contact

For more information about this statement, to arrange interviews or learn more about our work, write to communications@pacja.org or visit www.pacja.org, where you can also subscribe to receive regular updates and insights from the frontlines of climate action.