African countries have issued a stark joint declaration calling on major polluting nations to help poorer countries develop without further destroying the planet's climate and ecosystems, as wealthy nations did. They advocate for a global carbon tax as the primary mechanism to enable sustainable investment in vulnerable countries.
The proposed tax would apply to fossil fuels, maritime shipping, and aviation—the sectors most responsible for climate change—and could be complemented by a global financial transaction tax targeting stock markets and large investment funds.
The declaration was issued at the close of the Africa Climate Summit, held in Nairobi, Kenya, last week. The document renews calls for sweeping reforms of multilateral financial institutions like the World Bank and the IMF, and advocates for a new Global Climate Finance Pact by 2025, culminating in COP30 in Belém, Brazil.
The risk of global average temperatures exceeding the Paris target of 1.5°C is critical for the continent, which has contributed the least to climate change. In addition to exacerbating droughts and desertification that are already causing food shortages, extreme weather is increasing the frequency of cyclones in countries like Mozambique and Malawi. There, half a million people were displaced and more than 600 died from flooding and landslides in March 2023.
Alongside the impacts of climate change, the continent is still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to significant debt, limiting countries' fiscal capacity to implement climate policies.
One of the document's most emphasized points is the urgent need for robust growth in renewable energy capacity across the continent by the end of this decade—from the current 56 GW to 300 GW by 2030.
“Climate change impacts are relentlessly eating away at Africa’s economic progress,” said Kenyan President William Ruto in his opening address. “Africa’s 54 countries must go green quickly before they industrialize, and not vice versa, unlike what [wealthy nations] had the luxury of doing.”
Ruto is regarded as one of the most consistent climate leaders in today's political landscape, rallying support both within and outside Africa for a global carbon tax that would fund sustainable investment in developing nations.
Renewable Energy
Kenya's electricity grid is 93% renewable, contrasting sharply with the rest of the continent, which has attracted just $60 billion (2%) of the $3 trillion invested globally in renewables over the past two decades. Without cheap, clean energy, the high cost of fossil fuels leaves electricity inaccessible to around 600 million Africans today.
To attract more funding, the Nairobi declaration recognizes the need to boost demand for renewable energy rather than just building generation capacity. To drive this demand, it recommends shifting the primary processing of raw materials sourced in Africa to the continent itself. Between 30% and 40% of the world's minerals critical for renewable energy are located in African soil.
“Let us make Africa a renewable energy superpower,” urged António Guterres during the second day of the summit, which was attended by other high-profile figures, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber.
“I am excited to see African and global leaders converging to discuss how Africa can lead the way in this climate crisis with solutions for Africa and the world. Currently, renewable energy is on everyone’s lips. Let’s keep this momentum going as we head toward COP28 and the future of our planet,” said Wangari Muchiri, Africa Director at the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC).
Via CicloVivo.
This article was written by Romullo Baratto. The translation is powered by AI.
