The Nairobi Declaration: Africa takes charge of its future in the face of climate challenges
After three days of intensive discussions, the 19 African Heads of State and Government meeting in Kenya adopted the Nairobi Declaration, a document which lays the foundations for a common African position for the next Conference. United Nations on Climate Change (COP28). With this declaration, Africa affirms its desire to take control of its own climate change narrative and puts forward its own solutions to face these challenges.
The Nairobi Declaration emphasizes the potential of the African continent in the development of renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and green industries. African Heads of State also called for the establishment of a financial architecture aimed at alleviating the debt of African countries and proposed to impose a carbon tax to incentivize companies to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse. These initiatives reflect Africa’s determination to play an active role in the fight against climate change and to promote sustainable development in its territory.
This position taken by Africa on climate challenges raised a lot of hope among the participants at the summit. Durrel Halleson, in charge of partnerships at the NGO WWF Africa, underlines that for the first time, Africa manages to change the perception which considered it as a vulnerable region in the face of climate change. By claiming to have African solutions, Africa sends a strong message and shows its determination to find answers adapted to its own realities.
The Nairobi summit was also an opportunity to highlight the need to follow up on the commitments made by African countries. Frederick Kwame Kumah of the African Wildlife Foundation stresses the importance of having a monitoring mechanism in place to hold governments, the private sector and other stakeholders accountable for their pledges. This will help ensure that the commitments made at the summit are translated into concrete and tangible actions.
However, some critical voices were raised to question the importance given to carbon credits at the summit. According to these critics, carbon credits can be considered as false solutions that do not allow a real reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. It is necessary to take these criticisms into account and to develop more sustainable and effective alternative solutions.
In conclusion, the Nairobi Declaration marks an important step in Africa’s awareness of climate challenges.. By putting forward its own solutions and affirming its will to act, Africa is showing its determination to play a key role in the transition towards a more sustainable and resilient future in the face of climate change.