The first African Climate Summit was recently held in Nairobi, Kenya, with the participation of many African leaders. The event culminated in the adoption of the “Nairobi Declaration”, an initiative to harness the continent’s potential for green growth and strengthen Africa’s position in international climate change negotiations.
The “Nairobi Declaration” calls on the international community to support Africa in its fight against global warming, by investing in renewable energy projects and by reforming the global financial system to facilitate access to the necessary financing. African countries have also called for renewable energy generation capacity on the continent to be increased from the current 56 gigawatts to at least 300 gigawatts by 2030.
In addition to this, African leaders have proposed the establishment of a new financing architecture tailored to the needs of the continent, including restructuring and debt relief, to relieve African economies. They also called on world leaders to support the idea of a carbon tax regime, which could include a tax on fossil fuel trade, shipping and aviation, as well as a global tax on financial transactions.
During the summit, nearly $23 billion in investment pledges were made in renewable energy, including a $4.5 billion contribution from the United Arab Emirates. This increased investment in green energy will help reduce Africa’s dependence on fossil fuels and promote sustainable development on the continent.
This summit marks an important step in Africa’s awareness of the urgency of climate change and the need to take concrete measures to counter its effects. By positioning itself as a major player in the climate debate, Africa intends to play an influential role in international negotiations, particularly during the next United Nations Climate Conference (COP28) to be held in Dubai at the end of november.
The “Nairobi Declaration” therefore constitutes a valuable roadmap for the future of Africa, which aims to maximize its development potential while taking into account environmental issues. Through investments in renewable energy and reform of the financial system, Africa will be able to face the challenges of climate change and actively contribute to building a sustainable future for the planet.