Humanity is facing two existential threats: climate change and pandemics

Climate change is making outbreaks of disease more common and more dangerous, says the Pandemic Action Network, a platform ensuring the world is prepared to respond to outbreaks and prevent the next pandemic.

Climate change impacts health both directly and indirectly, and is strongly mediated by environmental, social and public health determinants. Roughly 60% of new pathogens come from animals, and roughly one-third of those can be directly attributed to changes in human land use.

 

According to the WHO, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year between 2030 and 2050, and the direct damage costs to health is estimated to be between US$2-4 billion per year by 2030.

 

“As the impacts of climate change grow, so do pandemic threats such as rising temperatures and deforestation directly linked to increasing risk of zoonotic spillover, infectious diseases, epidemic and pandemic threats,” said Aggrey Aluso, Director, Africa Region, Pandemic Action Network.

 

He was speaking at the first Africa Editors Climate Forum convened by the Kenya Editors Guild and Powershift Africa, under the coordination of AfricaonAir.

 

Aggrey observed that climate change is undermining every dimension of global health monitored, increasing the fragility of the global systems that health depends on, and increasing the vulnerability of populations to the coexisting geopolitical, energy, and cost-of-living crisis.

 

“Insufficient climate change adaptation efforts have left health systems vulnerable to climate change-related health hazards,” he said. “Responding to the existing health impacts of climate change and minimizing future health threats demands urgent attention by the global community to advance rapid and large-scale action across health and other sectors”.

 

Without action, climate change could push more than 100 million people into extreme poverty by 2030.

 

Effective solutions to address climate change, and its impacts on health, remains slow and does not meet the scale of the challenge.

 

The human, economic, and social costs of inaction on both climate change and pandemics are enormous, far exceeding the estimated costs of preparation and prevention of pandemics or climate mitigation and adaptation, noted Aggrey.

 

The media, the scientific community, corporations, and country leaders are increasingly engaging in health and climate change and new analysis shows that 86% of updated or new Nationally Determined Contributions now reference health.

 

By Kofi Adu Domfeh 

 

Afreximbank urged to cease funding fossil fuel projects in Africa

African civil society wants the Afrieximbank to invest in clean energy projects that focus on regional integration of the power sector. 

This, they say, will create economies of scale, permitting for lower costs across all aspects of infrastructure including for power. 

The CSOs are concerned the bank’s ongoing support for fossil fuel projects in Africa not only contribute to climate change but also have severe negative impacts on local communities and ecosystems.

Africa is one of the most vulnerable regions to the impacts of climate change, with rural communities already facing the devastating consequences of droughts, floods, and extreme weather events.

“Continued investment in fossil fuel projects only exacerbates these challenges and undermines our efforts to achieve 1.5 degrees climate target and the Sustainable Development Goals,” said the group of CSOs, including Environment Governance Institute, Uganda, Friends of the Earth, Togo, Alliance for Empowering Rural Communities and AbibiNsroma Foundation, Ghana.

According to the Afreximbank’s 2021 Annual Report, between 2020 and 2021 approvals to the oil and gas sector rose from US$2.41 billion in 2020 to US$2.45 billion in 2021, and accounted for 16.4 percent of total approvals.  

The CSO’s however say the bank’s support to fossil fuel projects contravenes with Article 2.1(c) of the Paris agreement, which encourages companies to finance projects consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate-resilient developments. 

“If the investment initially intended for these fossil fuel projects were redirected to solar PV, it could cover more than a quarter of the cost of all Africa’s solar PV capacity additions to 2025.

“It is worth stating that, the fossil fuel projects Afreximbank financed in Nigeria, Mozambique and East Africa have had significant socioeconomic impacts including land grabbing, displacement, loss of livelihoods, increased poverty, and gender-related issues such as teenage pregnancies and gender-based violence; Local conflicts, militarization, and instability; environmental issues like land and water pollution, biodiversity loss, and the disruption of vital ecosystems, which directly undermines the progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDGs 1, 5, 8, 10, 14, 15, and 16,” the statement noted.

The CSOs believe that Afrieximbank needs to do more to align the Bank's investment policies with the goals of the Paris Agreement. 

“It is crucial for the Afrieximbank to take a stronger stance against fossil fuel projects and shift its focus towards supporting renewable energy initiatives and sustainable infrastructure development," they stated.

Africa's power challenge 

The continent is saddled with an energy crisis. Over 640 million Africans have no access to energy, corresponding to an electricity access rate for African countries at just over 40 percent, the lowest in the world.  

Fossil-fuel based power generation is the single largest source of electricity generation in Africa. However, fossil fuels are the most expensive means for generating electricity, and this is exacerbated by high fuel prices. 

In a number of countries, emergency energy solutions, which constitute a large part of installed capacity, also rely mostly on fossil-fuel energy. 

The costs of emergency generation are in the range of US $0.2 to US $0.3 per kWh, which is much higher than the cost of conventional generation.

Meanwhile, Africa’s energy potential, especially renewable energy, is enormous, yet only a fraction of it is being currently employed. 

Hydropower provides around a fifth of current capacity but not even a tenth of its total potential is being utilized. Similarly, the technical potential of solar, biomass, wind and geothermal energy is significant. 

Africa is home to 60% of the best solar resources globally, yet only 1% of installed solar PV capacity. Solar PV – already the cheapest source of power in many parts of Africa – outcompetes all sources continent wide by 2030.

Renewables, including solar, wind, hydropower and geothermal account for over 80% of new power generation capacity by 2030 in Africa. 

Signing the Glasgow Statement

While the civil society organisations in Africa appreciate Afreximbank’s efforts in accelerating trade and investments across Africa through financial boosts and making the continent competitive in world trade, the bank is urged to put a stop to supporting to fossil fuel projects which pose threat to environmental conservation, human rights and sustainable energy transition on the continent. 

“We want the Afrieximbank to take a cue from the African Development Bank (AfDB) for its commitment to green and sustainable development in Africa. The recent launch of the African Green Financial Initiative demonstrates the Bank's recognition of the urgent need to transition towards renewable energy and low-carbon development pathways. We believe the Afrieximbank can do the same,” they urged. 

The CSOs have therefore urged Prof. Benedict Okey Oramah, Chairman of the Afieximbank, to sign the Glasgow Statement and join other financial institutions in committing to end support for fossil fuel projects. 

The Glasgow Statement, spearheaded by the Friends of Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform, calls for a global effort to phase out subsidies and public support for fossil fuels by 2020. 

By signing the Glasgow Statement, the Afrieximbank can send a powerful message to the international community, demonstrating its commitment to a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable Africa. 

It will also encourage other African financial institutions to take similar steps and accelerate the transition towards a renewable energy future.

By Kofi Adu Domfeh

Climate Action: Africa and UAE join forces to drive just energy transition

The UN climate change conference in UAE (COP28) and the Africa Climate Action Summit will drive a just energy transition that leaves no one behind, underpinned by real action including the tripling of renewables and mobilising the partnerships and finance to deliver on the transition.

That’s according to a joint statement by COP28 President-designate, Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber and the President of Kenya, William Ruto.

The Africa Climate Action Summit in September will be a pivotal moment for Africa and on the Road to COP28 to accelerate the energy transition and bring African solutions to Dubai this November.

“We are determined to work hand in hand to ensure COP28 and the Africa Climate Action Summit will deliver real and tangible results for the climate and for the people of Africa and the world.

“To underscore our commitment to results we have today launched a joint working group between the Africa Climate Action Summit and COP28 with a focus on the just energy transition and unlocking climate finance to accelerating green growth in Africa in the lead up to the respective summits,” they said in the statement

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges confronting the world today.

Both the Africa Climate Action Summit and COP28 will be critical milestones in the year of the Global Stocktake for the international community to come together and provide a solutions-oriented path forward.

A critical element will be a plan to fundamentally transition the world’s energy systems and vastly scale investments in clean energy.

Africa has the potential to lead this transition and deliver enormous benefits for the region and globally.

In addition to being home to one of the planet’s most important carbon sinks, it is endowed with significant untapped hydro potential along the Congo and Nile rivers, geothermal potential along the Rift Valley, and solar and wind potential across the Continent.

It is also home to the current and next generation of climate leaders, entrepreneurs, business, and civil society that will help unlock the solutions to transformative action.

On a continent where almost half of the population still lacks electricity, clean energy provides an opportunity to supercharge economic growth and improve lives and livelihoods.

Realizing this potential will require a step change. Clean energy investment in Africa represents only 2% of the global total and less than 10% of the $120 billion a year that is required.

“We must transform the way we deploy public, concessional, and philanthropic capital to drive the private investment that is needed for climate action in Africa.

“We need to fundamentally rethink the way financiers, governments, global institutions, and technology providers engage with each other. We must all play our collective part,” said the statement.

The leaders say they are committed to realizing Africa’s potential in the energy transition beginning with the participation at the Africa Energy Forum in Nairobi on June 20th.

The climate crisis is biting and African editors cannot sit aloof

The month of June 2023 has recorded devastating infractions in the weather, with attendant havoc in communities and environments in Africa.

Downpours in various regions have caused severe flooding, leading to submerged homes, destruction of property, displacement of people, and in some instances loss of lives.

 

These are exacerbated by climate change and the impacts point to a crisis.

 

However, there has been a gap in African newsrooms in telling the African climate story and the urgency of the climate crisis.

 

A recent review of how Africa is covered in climate news shows there is a need to elevate Africa’s voice and perspectives in the media as part of driving climate action on the continent.

 

To amplify the voice of Africa in the climate change narrative, the first Africa Editors Climate Forum was convened by the Kenya Editors Guild and Powershift Africa, under the coordination of AfricaonAir.

 

The Forum, held in Nairobi, Kenya brought together editors from parts of the continent to discuss ways to enhance the coverage of climate change issues in African newsrooms.

 

Participants shared experiences and discussed the state of climate change reporting in Africa and challenges newsrooms face, while exploring new opportunities and creative approaches to climate reporting.

 

Chief Executive Officer of Kenya Editors Guild, Rosalia Omungo, said editors who are the gatekeepers have the responsibility to ensure a clear and accurate message is out.

 

“Reporting matters like climate change must adhere to the basic tenets of accuracy and credibility. Credibility goes beyond and goes out of the source of data. Journalists must go beyond the science and reflect humanity,” she stated.

 

She also emphasized the importance of cross-border reporting to enhance the climate narrative across the African continent.

 

Researchers and experts in climate change, energy and sustainable development shared perspectives to help in framing stories to offer solutions in climate change challenges.

 

Kenya’s special envoy for climate change, Ambassador Ali Mohamed, noted that Africa is a victim of climate change and therefore needs support to overcome the impacts of climate change.

 

The African continent emits less than 0.5percent of global carbon emissions but remains the most vulnerable to climate change.

 

In pushing for the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund, the envoy said Africa will continue to push for what is legitimate.

 

“We need to take a hard look at the resources we have on our doorstep. Africa has critical mineral potential, land size and immense potential for renewable energy,” said Ambassador Ali.

 

Critical issues of interest in the climate narrative include climate finance, adaptation and mitigation.

 

Programme manager at PowerShift Africa, Fatuma Hussein, called for strong collaboration and engagements between newsrooms and climate scientists to build resilience and drive sustainable development in Africa.

 

By Kofi Adu Domfeh  

 

Bonn Climate Conference closes with progress on key issues, laying groundwork for COP28

The Bonn Climate Change Conference has closed after two weeks of intense work that made progress on several critical issues, helping lay the groundwork for the political decisions required at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) at the end of the year.

 

“Having taken nearly two weeks to agree an agenda, it is easy to believe we are far apart on many issues, but from what I have seen and heard, there are bridges that can be built to realize the common ground we know exists,” said UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell. “World-changing agreements happen when negotiators rise to the occasion, reach out and find compromises, then manage to convince their capitals of the merit and necessity of those compromises.”

 

At the Bonn meeting, progress was made on issues of critical importance, including the global stocktake, climate finance, loss and damage, and adaptation, among many others.

 

Stiell singled out the global stocktake, which will conclude at COP28, as a moment to course correct to get the world on track to limiting the temperature rise in line with the Paris Agreement.

 

Delegates at the Bonn conference wrapped up the last meeting of the technical dialogue of the first global stocktake – laying the ground for more ambitious climate action.

 

“Pledges by Parties and their implementation are far from enough,” said Stiell. “So, the response to the stocktake will determine our success – the success of COP28, and far more importantly, success in stabilizing our climate.”

 

In Bonn, government delegates, observers and experts took part in the stocktake’s third and final technical dialogue, which was comprised of a series of roundtables and events spread across six days. They discussed how to accelerate collective progress on mitigation, including response measures; adaptation; loss and damage; and means of implementation – climate finance, technology transfer, and capacity building.

 

In early September, the co-facilitators of the technical dialogue will publish a synthesis report, capturing the key findings of the three meetings of the dialogues. It will contain technical information, good practices and lessons learned to help Parties and non-Party stakeholders identify what to do to course-correct and achieve the Paris Agreement goals.

 

Other discussions and events at the Bonn Climate Conference focused on climate finance, notably the provision of adequate and predictable financial support to developing countries for climate action, including setting a new collective quantified goal on climate finance in 2024. On the global goal on adaptation, Parties agreed on structural elements for a Dubai decision.

 

The second Glasgow Dialogue on Loss and Damage provided useful information to advance the work of the Transitional Committee on the operationalization of the funding arrangements and new fund for responding to loss and damage. Discussions focused on maximizing support from existing funding arrangements, including considerations on coherence, complementarity, and coordination. The Transitional Committee will make recommendations for consideration and adoption at COP28 on how to operationalize the new loss and damage fund and funding arrangements.

 

The Bonn conference brought together more than 4,800 participants from all corners of the world, almost double the number of participants that attended last year’s conference. Indigenous peoples, local communities, businesses, cities and civil society, including youth and children, spoke about how they are addressing climate change and highlighted challenges that need to be overcome.

 

COP28 will take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 30 November to 12 December this year. It will be preceded by four Regional Climate Weeks.

 

Bonn Climate Change Talks: AGN insists on adaptation as key priority for Africa

The African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN) says developing countries’ efforts on adaptation must be recognised in the outcome of the Global Stocktake, as the 58^th session of the United Nations Subsidiary Bodies (SB58) conference ends.

Speaking during the closing session of the technical dialogue of the GST in Bonn, Germany, AGN Chair Ephraim Mwepya Shitima said developing countries have demonstrated unwavering commitment by mobilising domestic resources for adaptation in the face of inadequate international support.

 

“We reiterate the need for an additional message in the GST on the recognition of adaptation efforts of developing countries, which is a strong demonstration of commitment by vulnerable countries in the face of inadequate international support,” said Shitima. “We also look forward to guidance on how we will deliver on the clear mandate in respect of assessing the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA).”

 

As the world is already experiencing changes in average temperature, shifts in the seasons, an increasing frequency of extreme weather events, and slow onset events, Africa has not been spared from climate disasters requiring adaptation resources at scale.

 

According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), adaptation refers to adjustments in ecological, social or economic systems in response to actual or expected climatic incentives and their effects. It refers to changes in processes, practices and structures to moderate potential damages or to benefit from opportunities associated with climate change.

 

Many nations and communities are already taking steps to build resilient societies and economies. However, greater action and ambition is needed to cost-effectively manage the risks, both now and in the future.

 

Parties to the UNFCCC and its Paris Agreement recognise that adaptation is a global challenge, which requires country-driven, gender-responsive, participatory and fully transparent approaches, considering vulnerable groups, communities and ecosystems; and guided by best available science.

 

The UNFCCC has set up constituted bodies and workstreams relevant to progressing adaptation responses and enhancing societal and environmental resilience. Most recently, the work programme on the Global Goal on Adaptation, launched in 2021 at COP 26, maps out the way for the world to enhance adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience, and reduce vulnerabilities associated with climate change.

 

During the technical dialogue on the GST, the AGN made it abundantly clear, the continent’s aspirations on adaptation.

 

Kulthoum Omari, AGN Lead Coordinator for the GGA, said: “We are already feeling the impacts from climate change, even below 1.5-degree global warming. Currently, we are at 1.15 degrees of global warming and according to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), Africa has warmed faster than the global average since pre-industrial times. This emphasizes the urgency of accelerating the implementation of adaptation in Africa during this decade…,” said Omari.

 

The IPCC WGII report, through the Africa Chapter provides information on the impacts of climate change to date. For example, Agricultural productivity growth in Africa is reported to have reduced by 34% since 1961 due to climate change, more than any other region.

 

IPCC further predicts that most African countries will enter unprecedented high temperature climates earlier in this century than generally wealthier, higher latitude countries, emphasising the urgency of accelerating implementation of adaptation in Africa during this decade.

 

It is for this reason that the African Group insists on a comprehensive approach and action-oriented content of the Factual Synthesis Report (FSR), presenting clear findings on the required efforts; current levels of efforts and gaps; and implementation of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) cycle and raising of ambition in Parties’ undertakings and international cooperation based on equity and Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC) principle.

 

“We cannot over-emphasise the importance of balance between the various thematic areas and addressing them in a comprehensive manner. We reiterate the call for a standalone reflection on loss and damage and response measures in the Factual Synthesis Report. We trust that our concerns on adaptation and the means of implementation sections will also be addressed in the next iteration of our work,” concluded AGN Chair.

 

By Kofi Adu Domfeh

Ghanaians take climate action in planting 10million trees in a day

For the third year running, Ghanaians are turning up in public and private spaces for a mass tree planting exercise in a day for a greener future.

Schools, churches, private and public corporate institutions and individuals are joining in the national drive to plant 10 million trees in a day under the Green Ghana initiative.

 

Without climate action, the urgent quest to salvage nature from its emergency mode will be a herculean task. Planting trees is an important exercise as it has become critical to keep global warming below 1.5°C this century.

 

When Ghanaians planted 7million trees in the maiden exercise in 2011, the government described the move as “an aggressive national afforestation and reforestation programme to restore the lost forest cover of Ghana and to contribute to the global effort to mitigate climate change”.

 

In the following year, the country exceeded its target by planting 24million trees.

 

According to the Forestry Commission, the over 30 million trees planted in reserve and off-reserve spaces on Green Ghana Day have 23million of them surviving.  This represents 81% and 72% of the trees' survival rate in 2021 and 2022 respectively. 

 

Ultimately, the initiative is to encourage young people to inculcate the values of planting and nurturing trees while mobilizing national action for the restoration of degraded landscapes.

 

As a climate mitigation activity, the Green Ghana initiative enhances livelihoods for rural communities through their engagement in the production of tree seedlings, and helps in beautifying communities and the environment.

 

The theme for this year is “Our Forests, Our Health”, highlighting the importance of green environments in the promotion of good health and sustainability of lives.

 

According to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Forestry Commission, two strategies are devised to encourage Ghanaians to plant trees.

 

The first strategy is to plant in degraded forest reserve compartments across the country.

 

The second strategy is to plant outside forest reserves; within farms, along watershed areas, in road medians, compounds of homes, schools, churches, offices, and within recreational spaces.

 

The dilemma of mining in forest reserves

 

Ghana lost over 160,000 hectares of forest from 2010 to 2015, according to Global Forest Watch. The percentage of forest lost within this period exceeds the quantum of trees cultivated from 1963 to 2016 in the country’s forest zones.

 

Restoring the lost forest cover will help to fight climate change, but Ghana must first save its forest reserves from the devastating impact of illegal and irresponsible mining.

 

Illegal mining activities have in the past decade reached a crescendo that have ravaged lands, forests and water bodies. 

The gains of the Green Ghana Day will therefore be insignificant without a targeted and committed approach to halting mining in forest reserves.

It is expected that the government’s drive to aggressively restore degraded lands and depleted forest reserves will be reciprocated with a similar drive to rid the Ghanaian forests of irresponsible and illegal mining activities.

by Kofi Adu Domfeh

 

Bonn Climate Change Conference: AGN pushes adaptation measures for women and youth

Women and youth require adaptation measures as they are more affected by climate change impact differently in the continent, says the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN).

 

AGN Chair, Ephraim Mwepya Shitima, says integrating a gender perspective in adaptation activities is critical, particularly through the Global Goal for Adaptation (GGA), given that women are disproportionately impacted by the negative effects of climate change and can play a crucial role in adaptation efforts.

 

He was speaking at the opening plenary of the 58^th Session of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) in Bonn, Germany.

 

“It is also important to ensure that interventions respond to the gender-specific needs of women and girls, do not exacerbate inequalities, and contribute to empowering women as contained in the Gender Action Plan to drive change at all levels of the adaptation process,” said Shitima.

 

The African Group would like to adopt concrete targets for scaling up dedicated funding for gender and climate change, particularly the four priority areas agreed at COP27, alongside gender mainstreaming that requires finances to be committed for effective climate action.

 

The AGN also advocates the implementation of effective accountability and transparency of climate finance tracking gender-responsiveness funding.

 

“These measures would ensure women’s effective and meaningful participation at all levels of decision-making on climate change at the local, national, and global levels. Indigenous knowledge must be considered to build trust with the women and girls.

 

“Women’s chores within the household are immense and time-consuming; therefore, providing environmentally friendly and accessible technologies using, where possible affordable renewable energies,” said Shitima.

 

The 6^th Synthesis Report of the Inter-governmental panel on climate change (IPCC) highlights the consequences of extreme climatic events and stresses the importance of enhancing ambitious action.

 

The World Meteorological Organization also published a report warning that global temperature will increase in the next five years, narrowing the achievability of limiting the 1.5 temperature goal.

 

“COP28 will be the COP that will deliver on the pledges, and the African Group now calls for implementing targets to action and promises to implementation,” the AGN Chair stated.

 

The Africa Group calls on all Parties to implement their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and reiterate the obligation under the Convention and the Paris Agreement that states developed countries should take the lead in the efforts to address climate change.  

 

Africa has called for the genuine strengthening of the linkages between the Technology Mechanism and the financial mechanism of the UNFCCC in order to realize the implementation of technology-supported adaptation and mitigation actions in developing countries.

 

“We would like to realize positive progress with the SBI agenda on the said linkages to ensure that technology-supported climate action is enhanced,” said AGN Chair.