The 28th session of the Conference of Parties is imminent. Leaders around the world, including those from Africa, will converge in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in November to, among other things, discuss and negotiate the future of our planet. This is coming on the heels of the just concluded inaugural African climate summit held in Kenya between 4-6 September, where a lot of discussions were centered around energy transition and climate finance.
Africa is home to some of the world’s largest tropical forests which offer several ecological and socio-economic benefits. These forests capture carbon, purify water and air, and provide various sources of income and food security for communities. The recent increase in drought followed by desert encroachment poses a significant threat to the continent and the well-being of the stakeholders and the trillions of carbon stored in them.
For this to happen, It will require a major ramp-up in the scale and quality of investments. Pushing for robust climate finance, through the Green Climate Fund, and other financing mechanisms is one area African representatives at this year’s COP must focus their attention on. Additionally, African countries can negotiate for the establishment of a Climate Justice Fund that will enable them to access additional funding for climate adaptation and restoration purposes.