As the Conference of Parties (COP29) in Baku Azerbaijan- a significant event in the global climate change discussion, trudged on The Weekly kept a pulse on developments. As it concluded it has been underwhelming, failing to significantly establish a new goal that obligates developed nations to allocate a specific and substantial amount in grants to developing countries.
Inversely this missed opportunity, confirms the failure of Global South nations to solidify solidarity by adopting a common goal. At the start of the COP29-dubbed ‘the finance COP,’ a consensus was reached that a sustainable outcome would be the start of a transformative finance approach that respects the specific needs, aspirations, and challenges of the developing African continent.
Climate change activists claim that if COP29 failed to deliver on finance it would decisively seal its fate as a failure amid calls for a comprehensive overhaul of the COP process and the global system, which continue to deal Africa the worst hand in global relations.
At the Weekly, we posit that this cannot be the whole sum of the matter. It is a springboard of introspection for the Global South’s approach to climate change negotiations and a reminder that climate action should be modelled more sustainably.
Holding governments accountable for climate action is more important as they should protect vulnerable populations, by prioritizing spending based on local vulnerability. The focus should be placed more on developing disaster preparedness, resilience, and adaptation plans that are based on good corporate governance.
Our concerns hinge on a history of government profligacy, not the least demonstrated by the extravagant spending for the COP- where bloated delegations add unnecessary costs in struggling economies. In Zimbabwe, failure to manage the national fiscus, in response to climate change impacts or other socioeconomic priorities exposes the hypocrisy of the question of increased climate change financing.
Global South governments would be well advised to put their houses in order and avoid neglecting local needs for loss and damage claims. Africa must stop mortgaging its resources for the global green transition and take up proactive decision-making and fair treatment in global climate negotiations.
Farai Maguwu, Centre for Natural Resources Governance (CNRG) emphasizes this need for proactive government leadership in addressing climate change’s disproportionate impact on vulnerable communities.
“Climate Justice demands government action to protect vulnerable populations, especially in the Global South. Governments must prioritize spending on disaster preparedness, resilience, and adaptation, rather than seeking compensation for losses. It’s time for accountability and action, not blame or excuses.”
“Our government must take responsibility, focusing on disaster preparedness, resilience, and adaptation. This shouldn’t be neglected for loss and damage claims, potentially masking corruption. We hold our governments accountable, not abstract concepts.”
Under the Tackling Climate Change and Energy Transition in Zimbabwe (TaCCET) civic society organizations, community-based organizations, and activists have mobilized people-centered climate change discussion. Under this consortium the African People’s Counter COP (APCC) was organized in Hwange and Harare recently, building momentum from the momentum, of the inaugural APCC convened by the African Climate Justice Collective (ACJC) in Saly, Senegal.
Themed “Africa United Against Systematic Oppression and Climate Injustice,” the African Counter COP captured the voices of vulnerable communities that face the brunt of climate change but are largely excluded from discussions of how to address the crisis. This exclusion is a glaring oversight of the Global South and lack of representation is an unacceptable disconnect from vulnerable populations.
While the COP platforms face backlash from critics for being elitist and stalling on reforms, the African government should rally on sustainable avenues of resource mobilization including taking concrete steps to curtail massive illicit financial outflows. Tax reforms are needed to address externalized costs of natural resource extraction like pollution and curb the exploitation of Africa’s wealth by external actors- such losses exceed foreign aid and foreign direct investment.
African government must seize the opportunity to make proactive decisions that build the financial capacities to mitigate and adapt to climate change, stop the massive illicit financial outflows, and sever the lifeline of extractivism. Natural resource extraction should be more sustainable to generate wealth and resources, instead of this one-sided exploitation.