2023-09-03 22:39:00
This time, the participants want something concrete. ” No question of meeting and that all this will come to nothing, as often during these meetings says the head of a West African NGO working on the climate.
About twenty African Heads of State or Government and nearly 20,000 members of delegations from all over the world meet in Nairobi.
Kenyan President William Ruto, whose country is hosting the event, is on the move and wants this meeting to mark a change in the way the continent mobilizes on environmental issues.
These three days should therefore be an opportunity to discuss green growth for the continent, as well as the financing of climate action.
These are, in any case, some of the themes declined, during debates or round tables in which will take part Azali Assoumani, the president of the African Union, or Antonio Guterres, the secretary general of the United Nations.
The real ambition of this event is to find a common approach and to formulate “ african solutions to climate challenges, leading to the signing of a “Nairobi Declaration”.
If this were to materialize, it would be a strong commitment in Africa, less than three months from COP28, which begins at the end of November in Dubai.
Concrete and strong commitments are expected
The countries of the African continent are among the most vulnerable to climate change: droughts, floods, cyclones… natural disasters are on the increase.
However, in addition, the means are lacking to respond to it, especially since several countries are suffering from the weight of their debt.
The need for a new financial architecture for the climate should therefore be at the heart of discussions, around the restructuring of debts, for example, or the introduction of taxes on fossil fuels and on polluting industries, such as aviation and maritime transport.
The summit intends to highlight the potential of the continent in the fight once morest climate change.
Commitments are expected in particular in the increase of agricultural production, the protection of oceans and forests or the development of renewable energies.
“I hope we can move away from fossil fuels”
Among the 20,000 delegates, representatives of civil society. Because activists and other climate defenders expect a lot from these three days of discussions.
The call of several organizations? Do not stop at discussions and promises, but develop concrete solutions to face the challenges of climate change on the continent.
« I hope that we can move away from fossil fuels and false solutions like carbon credits and that African leaders will instead insist on the need for investments in the renewable energy sector. “says Charity Migwi, climate activist with the association 350 Africa.
« They also need to push for the implementation of climate finance pledges, for the funds to be made available, she adds. African states are already too indebted, taking more loans to finance climate actions would mean driving us deeper into poverty. »
A Nairobi declaration would be a document bringing together proposals common to the various African states on the climate. This is a particularly important point, for Cherop Soy, a Kenyan activist who represents youth at the top.
« African countries have varied geographies and contexts, she recalls, but it is still important that the continent can speak with a unified voice. Because overall, the challenges we face are very similar. »
The summit is also presented as an opportunity to prepare for COP28, which will take place in Dubai in December. And to provide African solutions to climate issues.
“We hope this is not just one more debate”
Joined by RFI, Fatima Diallo is executive director of Cradesc, an organization that works in particular in the field of energy transition in Senegal. For her too, this summit must cause a real paradigm shift to be useful.
« I go there in a very constructive and at the same time very critical state of mind. We don’t just want it to be replicas of different COPs. We have seen the disaster for what concerns us, civil society, of what COP27 was. »
We are there, mixed in relation to the upcoming COP28, and so we are going there, all the same, with a very constructive and very positive spirit, I would say, precisely hoping that it will not be one more debate.
« We have seen the commitment, whether at the African Development Bank, whether it is the States as such, through the speeches, in any case, that they are making, as a prelude, in the various media in relation to their commitment to this summit and to making it a reality », continues Fatima Diallo.
So, we really hope that beyond fine speeches, we will come out of this with a declaration that would make it possible to move towards an action plan and a very clear roadmap in which the States would also make very clear commitments that they would then have the obligation to implement.
The first day, Monday, is devoted to ministerial discussions. On Tuesday, heads of state and government will meet before the summit closes on Wednesday.
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