South Africa – The Road To COP29: High-Level Dialogue On African Priorities

On October 9, 2024, the Southern Africa Resource Watch (SARW) convened a vital dialogue that brought Africa’s climate priorities into sharp focus ahead of the COP29 summit in Baku. The event gathered key stakeholders, including parliamentarians, civil society, climate negotiators, and industry leaders, to discuss Africa’s role in the global climate agenda. Central to the discussions were issues of climate finance, adaptation strategies, and ensuring a just and equitable energy transition for the continent.

Key Highlights:

1. Climate Finance and Debt Justice
   African ministers stressed the importance of a needs-based approach to climate finance, calling on developed countries to mobilize $1.3 trillion annually by 2030. They emphasized that this funding should come through public finance, structured as grants or highly concessional loans to avoid worsening Africa’s already strained debt situation. Veronica Jakarasi, Chair of the African Group of Negotiators, underscored the need for reparations from the world’s largest historical greenhouse gas emitters, as many African economies are in distress.
2. New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG)
   Prabhat Upadhaya from the African Climate Foundation called for climate finance to significantly surpass the current $100 billion per year, advocating for an NCQG that matches the scale of the crisis, especially in vulnerable regions. The discussion also emphasized streamlining access to climate finance and reducing bureaucratic barriers for African nations.
3. Carbon Markets
   A crucial discussion focused on the governance of carbon markets in Africa. Participants highlighted the importance of aligning Africa’s carbon trading mechanisms with Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement and regulating them to avoid the double counting of credits. Capacity-building for Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) of carbon credits was identified as critical, with initiatives like the UNFCCC’s Article 6 Capacity Building Work Programme seen as key supports.
4. Loss and Damage Fund
   The operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund emerged as a top priority. Participants stressed the need for non-debt finance mechanisms, particularly grants, to help African nations cope with the rising impacts of climate change. This fund was seen as essential for both disaster response and long-term climate resilience.
5. Just Energy Transition
   Neil Cole from The Presidency of South Africa emphasized that Africa’s energy transition should prioritize not just decarbonization, but also ensure affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy access for all. The session highlighted the importance of community engagement and sustainable development in mitigating the socio-economic impacts of this transition.
6. Gender and Climate Action
   Addressing the disproportionate impact of climate change on women and vulnerable populations, the dialogue underscored the urgency of integrating gender into climate policies. Participants called for more resources to accelerate gender-sensitive climate adaptation and disaster response efforts.

Key Takeaways:

• African nations must advocate for grant-based climate finance to prevent deepening debt burdens and empower vulnerable communities.
• Critical minerals offer economic opportunities for Africa, but local industries must be developed, and fair pricing ensured.
• The Loss and Damage Fund must be operationalized swiftly to support African nations already dealing with climate-related disasters.
• A just energy transition is crucial, focusing on alternative livelihoods for communities dependent on fossil fuels and aligning the transition with sustainable development goals.
• Carbon markets hold potential for Africa, but they require robust regulation, capacity building, and equitable mechanisms to ensure local communities benefit fairly.

As we move toward COP29, it is clear that Africa’s voice is indispensable in shaping global climate action. This dialogue reinforced the need for trust, transparency, and equity in addressing climate challenges. Africa not only contributes to global climate solutions but is also asserting that its interests and those of its people must be a priority in the international climate agenda.