Your
romantic moment can be under siege by the weather. That’s how close the reality
of climate change can dawn on you.
Sometime
ago, my friend Kojo shared the discomfort of the night’s hot breeze disturbing his
attempt to get romantically intimate with his partner.
“It
gets irritating to go skin-to-skin when you and your partner are already
drowning in sweat. Even late night cold showers don’t help matters,” he said.
“How can you be on heat when you’re already on fire?”
Extreme
weather adversely impact every facet of life – heavy rains and heat waves are
among hazards faced by the ever-growing global population.
The
realities of climate change, the vulnerabilities of communities on the
frontlines, and the growing urgency for decisive action in the face of
increasingly unpredictable weather patterns have shaped my experience and
defined my journey through the global climate change negotiations.
As
I find myself in Türkiye most part of November 2026 for COP31-related
engagements, ahead of the next United Nations Climate Change Conference in
Ethiopia (COP32), I cannot help but reflect on a journey that began more than a
decade ago in Lima, Peru. It is a moment of nostalgia, but also one of renewed
purpose, reminding me of how far the global climate conversation has travelled
and how much more remains to be done.
My
first encounter with the Conference of the Parties (COP) process was COP20 in
Lima, Peru, in 2014. It was an important moment in the evolution of
international climate diplomacy. The world was preparing for a new global
climate agreement, and the negotiations were increasingly focused on building
consensus around a framework that would succeed the Kyoto Protocol.
For
me, Lima was more than an international conference. It was an opportunity to
witness first-hand the complexities of climate diplomacy, the competing
interests of nations and the determination of vulnerable countries to ensure that
their voices were not lost in the global conversation.
At
a time I was top of my journalism career after winner of the African Climate
Change and Environmental Reporting Awards (ACCER), I was enthusiastic and energetic
in joining a ‘cult’ to up the narrative of Africa's vulnerability to the
climate phenomenon.
The crazy
marketplace of ideas
Lima
was an introduction to the realities of climate negotiations, what I later
termed ‘a crazy marketplace of ideas’ – the long hours of deliberations, the
difficult compromises, the diplomatic engagements and the persistent struggle
to ensure that the concerns of developing countries, particularly those in
Africa, received the attention they deserved.
The
momentum from Lima would lead to another defining moment in France the
following year.
Being
part of the process at COP21 in Paris in 2015 remains one of the most memorable
experiences of my engagement with climate change advocacy and reporting.
The
adoption of the Paris Agreement was a historic milestone. After years of
difficult negotiations, countries finally reached a landmark agreement to
collectively address the climate crisis, committing to efforts to limit global
warming to well below 2°C, while pursuing efforts to limit the increase to
1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
I
witnessed the excitement, relief and sense of achievement that accompanied the
agreement. For many who had followed the negotiations and advocated for
stronger climate commitments, Paris represented a breakthrough in global
cooperation.
Yet,
even then, there was an underlying question: how would the commitments made in
conference halls translate into meaningful action on the ground?
That
question has remained central to my work over the years.
My
engagement with the climate agenda has evolved beyond attending international
conferences. Through years of working with the Pan African Climate Justice
Alliance (PACJA), I have had the opportunity to engage with a network of
African civil society organisations, climate advocates, researchers, activists
and community voices committed to advancing climate justice.
PACJA
has been particularly instrumental in strengthening my appreciation of the
African climate narrative and the importance of collective advocacy.
Africa
contributes relatively little to global greenhouse gas emissions, yet its
communities remain among the most exposed to the devastating consequences of
climate change. From prolonged droughts and unpredictable rainfall patterns to
flooding, food insecurity, coastal erosion and the growing threats to
livelihoods, the impacts are increasingly visible.
I've
always shared my field reporting encounter with Nina Bawa, a farmer at Atebubu
Amantin in Ghana's Bono East Region, who struggled to harvest groundnuts
because the rains had failed her. The challenge of not benefiting from her toil
of tilling the land means her family's livelihood could be impacted adversely.
For
a journalist and climate advocate, these are not simply statistics to be
discussed at international conferences. They represent the lived experiences of
farmers losing their crops, fishing communities struggling with declining
catches, women and young people facing livelihood uncertainties, and vulnerable
households whose resilience is continually tested.
This
reality has reinforced my conviction that climate negotiations must remain
connected to the people they are intended to serve.
My
more recent engagement with the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) has offered
another important dimension to this journey. It has deepened my understanding
of the technical and diplomatic processes through which Africa seeks to advance
its collective interests in global climate negotiations.
The
AGN's work is critical in ensuring that Africa speaks with a stronger,
coordinated voice on issues of climate finance, adaptation, mitigation, loss
and damage, technology transfer and a just transition.
It
is also a reminder that Africa must not merely participate in shaping the
global climate agenda; it must actively influence it.
"For
our countries, the negotiations are therefore not merely about text, paragraphs
or procedural decisions," said AGN Chair, Nana Dr. Antwi-Boasiako Amoah.
"They are about our people, our economies and our development prospects".
Türkiye: A moment
of reflection and renewed commitment
Being
in Türkiye at this point in the climate journey offers an opportunity to
reflect on the momentum built since those early negotiations in Lima and the
historic breakthrough in Paris.
There
is something particularly nostalgic about revisiting the journey from COP20 to
the present, especially considering the years spent working alongside climate
justice advocates through PACJA and my evolving engagement with the African
Group of Negotiators.
The
global climate conversation has changed considerably. We have moved from the
intense debates about securing a universal agreement to the more demanding task
of implementing commitments, mobilising climate finance, strengthening
adaptation and ensuring that countries and communities can withstand the
growing impacts of climate change.
However,
the gap between commitments and implementation remains a major concern.
For
Africa, the urgency is even greater. Communities facing climate-induced displacement,
declining agricultural productivity, water stress and extreme weather events
cannot afford endless cycles of promises and delayed action.
Will Ethiopia deliver
action?
As
Africa look towards COP32 in Ethiopia in 2027, I hope the conference will
provide an important opportunity to advance Africa's climate priorities and
strengthen the continent's influence in shaping solutions that respond to its
unique vulnerabilities and development aspirations.
Ethiopia,
as an African host, presents an opportunity to bring the climate conversation
closer to the realities of the continent. It should be a moment to demonstrate
that Africa is not simply seeking solidarity or support, but is also bringing
ideas, innovation, indigenous knowledge and practical solutions to the global
climate challenge.
Looking
back, I am grateful for the opportunities to witness and contribute to
different chapters of the global climate negotiations.
From
Lima to Paris, through the years of engagement with PACJA and now the African
Group of Negotiators, the experience has strengthened my commitment to
amplifying Africa's voice in the climate conversation.
As
a journalist, my responsibility has always been to connect policy to people,
negotiations to realities, and commitments to accountability. I have sought to
contribute to an African narrative that does not portray the continent merely
as a victim of climate change, but recognises its people as active participants
in developing solutions and shaping a more sustainable future.
I
remain hopeful that the years of engagement, advocacy, reporting and
contribution to this collective African effort will yield the desired impact.
But
that impact must be measured beyond the number of conferences attended,
declarations adopted or commitments announced.
It
must be seen in the resilience of our communities, the protection of
livelihoods, improved access to climate finance, stronger adaptation systems
and the ability of vulnerable populations to live with dignity despite the
growing threats of climate change.
Ultimately,
the true success of the climate negotiations will not be determined by what
happens within the conference halls, but by what changes in the lives of people
outside them.
That
is the journey I hope we are still making – from talks to action, from promises
to delivery, and from global commitments to tangible climate justice for Africa.
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