But groups representing the African interest at COP21
in Paris are not enthused with the pace of negotiations. They have expressed
pessimistic hope in the outcomes of the expected agreement.
“We hope for the best, but we’re very pessimistic,”
says Mithika Mwenda, Secretary-General of the Pan African Climate Justice
Alliance (PACJA), a civil society umbrella body.
Mithika particularly wants the issue of loss and damage
addressed in the agreement as “the cry from the climate impacted people of
Africa, especially women, children and smallholder farmers, is on the rise. The
cries also indicate that they are losing their farmlands and animals to floods
and drought which most of the time is all their live savings”.
Inspite of the obstacles and the challenges, Seth
Osafo, a leading member of the African Group of Negotiators (AGN), thinks there
will be an outcome, but one that will not be strong.
“It will be weak, it will be the lowest common
denominator; it will not solve the problem that the world is facing,” he
observed. “Knowing the vulnerability of Africa; the continent that is most
affected by the adverse impacts of climate change, definitely some of our
concerns will be addressed but I don’t think we’ll get everything”.
Among the many loopholes in the 21page blueprint for
the global climate deal is how much money developed countries will provide to
developing countries in climate adaptation programmes, whilst cutting their
greenhouse gas emissions.
The 2009 Copenhagen Accord was to provide short- and
long-term ‘climate finance’ to help developing countries adapt to climate
impacts. Developing nations pledged $10 billion a year from 2010-2012, ramping
up to US$100 billion a year starting in 2020.
This was touted as a way to help developing countries
avoid high-carbon pathways of development by adopting lower-emitting power
sources such as solar or natural gas.
As at now, only $10.9billion has been pledged, out of
which only $5.2billion has been delivered. And developing countries want
promises fulfilled.
The Pan-African Parliamentary Network on Climate Change
(PAPNCC) is disappointed that rich countries want to backtrack on their earlier
commitments to take leadership in climate action, by providing adequate finance
and reduce emissions as science demands.
“We are struggling with adaptation on a daily basis
especially as we struggle with climate-induced shocks and the need for
technical and financial support to do this... We are negotiating our future,
the future of our children’s children, as well as the health of the planet,”
said Awudu Cyprian Mbaya, Executive Secretary of PAPNCC.
Mr. Osafo however says the expected finance for climate
adaptation will not flow unless prevailing economic conditions in developed
countries improve.
“The whole issue of climate change has become an
economic issue because it is basically energy and energy is crucial to the
world economy…and until the conditions improve, I think developing countries
will be reluctant to give monies as promised”, he stated.
Whilst
the negotiations are ongoing in Paris, millions of people in Africa risk losing
their livelihoods to the combined severe impacts of extreme weather
conditions. To adapt to the changes in
the climate, the people need the resources to access information, technology
and other support systems.
“If we come out of Paris with a deal, however weak that
it is, that assures that the people that are suffering the most will continue
to pay, that a farmer have to be sold a technology to solve his problems
relating to climate change, then we have failed,” said Augustine Njamnshi of
PACJA Cameroon.
Story
originally commissioned by Vita International
http://www.afronline.org/?p=40931
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