WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 06 2023
The East African
President William Ruto (C) surrounded by other African leaders delivers his closing speech during the closure of the Africa Climate Summit 2023 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, Kenya on September 6, 2023.
PHOTO | LUIS TATO | AFP
By NATION AFRICA
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The Africa Climate Summit 2023 has culminated in the Nairobi Declaration, with the continent’s leaders asking developed nations to honour their commitments to provide $100 billion in annual climate finance.
African heads of state and governments on Wednesday also called for urgent reform of multilateral financial system in their bid to secure funding for climate mitigation and climate adaptation projects.
The declaration calls for "a new financing architecture that is responsive to Africa's needs including debt restructuring and relief", as frustration mounts over the high cost of financing on the continent.
Read: Ruto urges global lenders to be fair to Africa
It also asks rich carbon polluters to honour long-standing climate pledges to poorer nations and urges world leaders to back a proposed "carbon tax on fossil fuel trade, maritime transport and aviation".
The 54-nation continent is acutely vulnerable to the growing impacts of climate change, but the summit largely focused on calls to unlock investment in clean energy.
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More by this Author
The Africa Climate Summit 2023 has culminated in the Nairobi Declaration, with the continent’s leaders asking developed nations to honour their commitments to provide $100 billion in annual climate finance.
African heads of state and governments on Wednesday also called for urgent reform of multilateral financial system in their bid to secure funding for climate mitigation and climate adaptation projects.
The declaration calls for "a new financing architecture that is responsive to Africa's needs including debt restructuring and relief", as frustration mounts over the high cost of financing on the continent.
Read: Ruto urges global lenders to be fair to Africa
It also asks rich carbon polluters to honour long-standing climate pledges to poorer nations and urges world leaders to back a proposed "carbon tax on fossil fuel trade, maritime transport and aviation".
The 54-nation continent is acutely vulnerable to the growing impacts of climate change, but the summit largely focused on calls to unlock investment in clean energy.
Related
"A new Africa is there, and it means business," Kenyan President William Ruto said.
The summit saw funding pledges worth $23 billion "for green growth, mitigation and adaptation efforts" across the continent.
Ruto: Africa has the power to decarbonise the world
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 05 2023
President William Ruto delivers his opening remarks during the Africa Climate Summit 2023 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, Kenya on September 4, 2023.
By HELLEN SHIKANDA
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Kenya's President William Ruto, speaking at the opening ceremony of the inaugural Africa Climate Summit, said Africa has the power to decarbonise the world and boost investment for the continent.
Dr Ruto told the three-day summit at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) that Africa should seize the opportunity to transform Africa's climate dialogue.
More than three decades after climate talks gained momentum on the global stage, this is the first time African countries have convened a regional meeting exclusively to discuss their agenda.
Read: ‘Common agenda’ calls intensify ahead of Africa Climate Summit
Over the years, Africa has raised its concerns at global climate conferences through its regional groups that are parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), such as the African Group of Negotiators and the Group of 77 (G-77).
Although the continent contributes a negligible 4 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions, its grievances are often sidelined by promises made by high-emitting countries that are often not kept.
Related
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 05 2023
President William Ruto delivers his opening remarks during the Africa Climate Summit 2023 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, Kenya on September 4, 2023.
PHOTO | LUIS TATO |
By HELLEN SHIKANDA
More by this Author
Kenya's President William Ruto, speaking at the opening ceremony of the inaugural Africa Climate Summit, said Africa has the power to decarbonise the world and boost investment for the continent.
Dr Ruto told the three-day summit at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) that Africa should seize the opportunity to transform Africa's climate dialogue.
More than three decades after climate talks gained momentum on the global stage, this is the first time African countries have convened a regional meeting exclusively to discuss their agenda.
Read: ‘Common agenda’ calls intensify ahead of Africa Climate Summit
Over the years, Africa has raised its concerns at global climate conferences through its regional groups that are parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), such as the African Group of Negotiators and the Group of 77 (G-77).
Although the continent contributes a negligible 4 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions, its grievances are often sidelined by promises made by high-emitting countries that are often not kept.
Related
Africa power grids will not sustain EV uptake
For this reason, Dr Ruto said it was time for Africa to change the way it deals with climate issues.
"We come together with a clear understanding of the inadequacy of our climate finance needs, but we will not shy away from the realities that must bring about positive change," he said.
"Climate change is not just an abstract concept; it is proven by science and emerging experience. That is why we are not here to catalogue grievances and lease problems. We are here to talk about solutions," he added.
On decarbonising the world, President Ruto said Africa should harness its rich potential in renewable energy as it could benefit other people outside the continent and bring in development funds.
Read: Kenya seeks Swedish support ahead of Climate Summit
"Our assets must be in the form of partnerships. The reason we have not made so much progress is because Africa has not consolidated and brought its ideas to the table. The day we do that, we will be a wealthy continent," he said.
"It is not just the volume of our renewable resources that stands out, but also their non-seasonality. We will always have the sun," Dr Ruto said.
Dr Ruto subtly called out Africa's lenders for their inequitable payment of loans, in line with one of the key agendas of the summit, which is to restructure new ways of paying debts, as their plight is derailing the continent, which is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
"It is no secret that we pay at least five times more on our loans than the advanced economies. I see this as an opportunity to unleash the creativity of local investment. My call to everyone at this summit is to have African priorities. This is a moment to imagine a bold and radically positive African future," he said.
"The future is not something to be hoped for or wished for, it is for us to realise and imagine now. That is what we have come to do at the Africa Climate Summit," he added.
Other delegates at the event backed the African agenda, despite the furore in the weeks before the event that suggested outsiders had hijacked the summit with their ideas. Environment Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya said the overarching goal of the summit was to chart a green growth path for the African continent.
Read: Experts urge strong climate change action in Africa
"Climate change has entered a new era, it is not just about an environmental or development angle, it is now about climate change in the context of climate justice," she said.
Speaking on behalf of civil society, Mithika Mwenda, Executive Director of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), said it was time for climate summits to move away from being a battle between the global North and the global South.He warned developed countries against using such summits to escape responsibility for their high emissions, saying the narrative of change should be two-way.
"The outcome of this summit should not only provide solutions for people whose livelihoods are affected by climate change and its false solutions, but also reflect African realities, and adaptation should be at the heart of it," he said.
Josefa Sacko, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment at the African Union Commission, said climate change was a pandemic in Africa.
"What we are seeing is a situation where governments are abandoning development and spending their money on the climate crisis. Africa needs to move from a donor-recipient relationship to building investment," she said.
Youth and Indigenous Peoples were represented and shared the need for their voices to be at the centre of the climate talks.
For this reason, Dr Ruto said it was time for Africa to change the way it deals with climate issues.
"We come together with a clear understanding of the inadequacy of our climate finance needs, but we will not shy away from the realities that must bring about positive change," he said.
"Climate change is not just an abstract concept; it is proven by science and emerging experience. That is why we are not here to catalogue grievances and lease problems. We are here to talk about solutions," he added.
On decarbonising the world, President Ruto said Africa should harness its rich potential in renewable energy as it could benefit other people outside the continent and bring in development funds.
Read: Kenya seeks Swedish support ahead of Climate Summit
"Our assets must be in the form of partnerships. The reason we have not made so much progress is because Africa has not consolidated and brought its ideas to the table. The day we do that, we will be a wealthy continent," he said.
"It is not just the volume of our renewable resources that stands out, but also their non-seasonality. We will always have the sun," Dr Ruto said.
Dr Ruto subtly called out Africa's lenders for their inequitable payment of loans, in line with one of the key agendas of the summit, which is to restructure new ways of paying debts, as their plight is derailing the continent, which is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
"It is no secret that we pay at least five times more on our loans than the advanced economies. I see this as an opportunity to unleash the creativity of local investment. My call to everyone at this summit is to have African priorities. This is a moment to imagine a bold and radically positive African future," he said.
"The future is not something to be hoped for or wished for, it is for us to realise and imagine now. That is what we have come to do at the Africa Climate Summit," he added.
Other delegates at the event backed the African agenda, despite the furore in the weeks before the event that suggested outsiders had hijacked the summit with their ideas. Environment Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya said the overarching goal of the summit was to chart a green growth path for the African continent.
Read: Experts urge strong climate change action in Africa
"Climate change has entered a new era, it is not just about an environmental or development angle, it is now about climate change in the context of climate justice," she said.
Speaking on behalf of civil society, Mithika Mwenda, Executive Director of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), said it was time for climate summits to move away from being a battle between the global North and the global South.He warned developed countries against using such summits to escape responsibility for their high emissions, saying the narrative of change should be two-way.
"The outcome of this summit should not only provide solutions for people whose livelihoods are affected by climate change and its false solutions, but also reflect African realities, and adaptation should be at the heart of it," he said.
Josefa Sacko, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment at the African Union Commission, said climate change was a pandemic in Africa.
"What we are seeing is a situation where governments are abandoning development and spending their money on the climate crisis. Africa needs to move from a donor-recipient relationship to building investment," she said.
Youth and Indigenous Peoples were represented and shared the need for their voices to be at the centre of the climate talks.
President Ruto urges global financial institutions to be fair to Africa
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 05 2023
President William Ruto addressing participants during the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya on September 5, 2023.
By HELLEN SHIKANDA
More by this Author
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 05 2023
President William Ruto addressing participants during the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya on September 5, 2023.
By HELLEN SHIKANDA
More by this Author
By DAN OGETTA
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Africa is calling for a fair financial system that treats all nations equally, according to Kenya's President William Ruto, who also chairs the Heads of State Committee on Climate Change.
Speaking on the second day of the Africa Climate Summit, President Ruto said it was not too much to ask as many African nations were facing debt distress due to climate change.
"This is the continent with the highest investment potential. We are only limited by two things: high interest rates for development capital," President Ruto said, adding that nine countries in Africa are already in debt distress, 13 are at high risk and 17 are at medium risk.
Read: African leaders push for change in global financial structure
He argued that the suffering was global but the African continent was bearing the brunt and that the financial architecture is such that African nations are seen as risky borrowers.
"How do we get Africa to pay five times more?" The president wondered. "We are not asking to be favoured [or] treated differently... We need a conversation."
Related
More by this Author
Africa is calling for a fair financial system that treats all nations equally, according to Kenya's President William Ruto, who also chairs the Heads of State Committee on Climate Change.
Speaking on the second day of the Africa Climate Summit, President Ruto said it was not too much to ask as many African nations were facing debt distress due to climate change.
"This is the continent with the highest investment potential. We are only limited by two things: high interest rates for development capital," President Ruto said, adding that nine countries in Africa are already in debt distress, 13 are at high risk and 17 are at medium risk.
Read: African leaders push for change in global financial structure
He argued that the suffering was global but the African continent was bearing the brunt and that the financial architecture is such that African nations are seen as risky borrowers.
"How do we get Africa to pay five times more?" The president wondered. "We are not asking to be favoured [or] treated differently... We need a conversation."
Related
Scientists urge more funding, support of African research
"Climate change was destroying the economies of African nations and forcing affected countries to divert their budgets and resources meant for economic growth to dealing with the effects of climate change," Dr Ruto said.
"Africa had lost 2.5 million head of livestock, among other things, due to climate change," he said.
He said the summit was both Africa's climate summit and a global pre-COp28 meeting where Africa would speak, and the world would listen.
"The ACS is an orientation to familiarise us with our journey into the future, driven by African solutions," he explained. "We have gathered here to consult, deliberate, collaborate and share the future of climate action globally and for Africa. This summit is about turning ideas into action and forging transformative partnerships to bring our planet back from the brink of climate change."
Acknowledging that there was still a long way to go to achieve Africa's aspirations, he urged all stakeholders to keep their promises, even in difficult times.
Nevertheless, he said, there was a need to move fast because climate change was an emergency that required a commitment to climate action and green growth.
"This African moment is a global moment, we are there in word and deed. I urge everyone at this summit to show bold leadership in support of African aspirations. We have a long way to go and no time to lose. We have the permission of our ancestors to innovate a way, not only to go fast, but to go together," said Dr Ruto.
Even in the face of adversity, the summit host said, there is opportunity. Climate change and the crisis it brings is Africa's opportunity to unlock the vast resources we have for a green energy transition, he said.
President Ruto said Africa has an unprecedented opportunity to turn away from the well-trodden unsustainable path.
Speaking at the Youth Summit on Sunday, President Ruto said the world had witnessed the immense potential that African youth could unleash.
He added that this underscored the importance of the Youth Commission. Potential and opportunity are all futuristic.
African countries face unique, disproportionate and structural disadvantages that can help them achieve prosperity. And the tragedy of climate change is "relentlessly eating away at this progress", President Ruto lamented, while declaring that the continent will use its capacity to limit its own emissions as a clear pathway to net zero by 2050
"Furthermore, to achieve green growth, Africa has committed to move quickly to develop the necessary instruments and institutions, with Kenya, as an outcome of the summit, offering to host the Global Centre for Adaptation (GCA)," President Ruto said.
"We have been negatively profiled, the continent of disease, war and poverty, but we are stepping out to say that Africa is home to 60 percent of the world's renewable energy assets," he said.
Standing in for US President Joe Biden, US special climate envoy John Kerry said, "My sense is that after this speech, we have no choice but to act."
"Africa has the greatest opportunity in the world to win this (climate change) dialogue," he added.
"I feel that Africa at this moment offers an enormous opportunity. This problem that we face is man-made. Humanity is being threatened by humanity. We need the Loss and Damage Fund in one year, this year, in Dubai. We can win this battle, but we can only win it if we make fundamental choices," he further said.
"Climate change was destroying the economies of African nations and forcing affected countries to divert their budgets and resources meant for economic growth to dealing with the effects of climate change," Dr Ruto said.
"Africa had lost 2.5 million head of livestock, among other things, due to climate change," he said.
He said the summit was both Africa's climate summit and a global pre-COp28 meeting where Africa would speak, and the world would listen.
"The ACS is an orientation to familiarise us with our journey into the future, driven by African solutions," he explained. "We have gathered here to consult, deliberate, collaborate and share the future of climate action globally and for Africa. This summit is about turning ideas into action and forging transformative partnerships to bring our planet back from the brink of climate change."
Acknowledging that there was still a long way to go to achieve Africa's aspirations, he urged all stakeholders to keep their promises, even in difficult times.
Nevertheless, he said, there was a need to move fast because climate change was an emergency that required a commitment to climate action and green growth.
"This African moment is a global moment, we are there in word and deed. I urge everyone at this summit to show bold leadership in support of African aspirations. We have a long way to go and no time to lose. We have the permission of our ancestors to innovate a way, not only to go fast, but to go together," said Dr Ruto.
Even in the face of adversity, the summit host said, there is opportunity. Climate change and the crisis it brings is Africa's opportunity to unlock the vast resources we have for a green energy transition, he said.
President Ruto said Africa has an unprecedented opportunity to turn away from the well-trodden unsustainable path.
Speaking at the Youth Summit on Sunday, President Ruto said the world had witnessed the immense potential that African youth could unleash.
He added that this underscored the importance of the Youth Commission. Potential and opportunity are all futuristic.
African countries face unique, disproportionate and structural disadvantages that can help them achieve prosperity. And the tragedy of climate change is "relentlessly eating away at this progress", President Ruto lamented, while declaring that the continent will use its capacity to limit its own emissions as a clear pathway to net zero by 2050
"Furthermore, to achieve green growth, Africa has committed to move quickly to develop the necessary instruments and institutions, with Kenya, as an outcome of the summit, offering to host the Global Centre for Adaptation (GCA)," President Ruto said.
"We have been negatively profiled, the continent of disease, war and poverty, but we are stepping out to say that Africa is home to 60 percent of the world's renewable energy assets," he said.
Standing in for US President Joe Biden, US special climate envoy John Kerry said, "My sense is that after this speech, we have no choice but to act."
"Africa has the greatest opportunity in the world to win this (climate change) dialogue," he added.
"I feel that Africa at this moment offers an enormous opportunity. This problem that we face is man-made. Humanity is being threatened by humanity. We need the Loss and Damage Fund in one year, this year, in Dubai. We can win this battle, but we can only win it if we make fundamental choices," he further said.
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