AGN Chair outlines Africa’s strategic climate roadmap at CAHOSCC meeting ahead of COP31

At a press conference held during the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) meeting, Nana Dr. Antwi-Boasiako Amoah, Chair of the African Group of Negotiators (AGN), provided a detailed roadmap for Africa's approach to upcoming climate negotiations leading up to COP31. Dr. Amoah stressed that global climate action is currently facing significant challenges, as political pressures, nationalist sentiment, conservatism, and climate denial are eroding multilateral cooperation.

Simultaneously, geopolitical tensions and the global energy crisis have led to a renewed reliance on fossil fuels, hindering the transition to clean energy sources. Across Africa, extreme weather events exacerbated by Super El Niño conditions are causing severe droughts, floods, food insecurity, displacement, and energy shortages, while the continent continues to suffer disproportionate losses and damages from climate change.

Despite these challenges, Dr. Amoah highlighted that global commitments to the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement are weakening, with current Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) placing the world on a projected warming trajectory of 2.7°C. Furthermore, international climate finance is in decline, with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) replenishment decreasing by around 38% compared to previous cycles, and a 50% reduction in pledges from developed countries to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), creating a significant financing gap.

Dr. Amoah outlined several key thematic areas that will shape Africa's negotiating positions in the coming years. These include the establishment of the Just Transitions Mechanism, which aims to facilitate international cooperation, technical assistance, capacity-building, and knowledge-sharing for a launch at COP32. Additionally, Africa intends to address unilateral climate measures and protect its industrialization, trade opportunities, and economic development from discriminatory trade practices.

The group is also pushing to develop methodologies and guidance for the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) to maintain its prominence as a priority during negotiations.

To ensure continued financial support, the AGN is leveraging the two-year work programme established at COP30 to enforce developed countries' financial obligations under Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement. They are also calling for concrete steps to improve access to predictable public finance, advance the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG), and secure a significant climate finance outcome at COP32.

Other priorities include resolving outstanding issues with the Adaptation Fund's transition to serve the Paris Agreement, ensuring an inclusive launch for GST-2, and establishing a coherent strategy from COP31 through COP33, with COP31 focusing on advancing the UNFCCC agenda and COP32 serving as a milestone for consolidation.