The African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN) is placing climate adaptation finance at the forefront of its agenda as the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) opens in Antalya, Turkey, on November 9.
The AGN views COP31 as a critical foundational stepping stone toward COP32, which will be held in Ethiopia and dubbed the “African COP.”
“We need to make sure that we lay the building blocks so solidly to be able to go into COP32 with more strength,” said AGN Chair, Nana Dr. Antwi-Boasiako Amoah, when he addressed a press briefing in Antalya.
According to Dr. Amoah, African countries have spent the 11 years since the adoption of the Paris Agreement building operational structures to support climate action.
While nations have successfully negotiated the Global Goal on Adaptation by establishing real frameworks, major questions remain regarding how developing countries will fund and implement their National Adaptation Plans (NAPs).
Although African nations have consistently attempted to implement their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), financial constraints continue to hinder progress across the continent.
“Where is the financial ambition to help developing countries implement those commitments in their national adaptation plans?” quizzed Nana Amoah. “This is the backdrop within which we are coming into this COP as Africa.”
The financial hurdle persists despite commitments made at COP29, where developed countries agreed to take the lead in mobilizing at least $300 billion annually by 2035. However, there is still no agreed-upon plan with milestones showing how that money will be delivered.
For the AGN, COP31 is pivotal for implementing climate finance ambitions. Consequently, the Group is tabling formal requests to triple adaptation finance and secure the replenishment of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), which is critical for action within African countries.
“We would have every reason to defend the inclusion of the climate finance work programme agenda item so that we can have space to discuss finance that is credible, finance that is concessional, finance that is grant in nature to support climate action, especially adaptation action in our countries,” said AGN Chair.
Alongside core adaptation demands, Africa is focused on driving a just transition mechanism. This framework aims not only to address Africa’s energy poverty issues but also to consider the needs of workers and address the equitable natural resource needs of developing countries.
To safeguard future representation, the AGN is also building the capacity of young Africans to be in the negotiation room when current leaders are no longer available.
Meanwhile, the AGN has launched its official website to ease access to information on its activities: https://agnonclimatechange.org/
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