Tax polluters to finance Africa’s climate action, Wetang’ula urges

Africa must shift away from mere declarations on climate change and create financing systems that compel polluters to contribute to environmental restoration while enabling African nations to fund more of their own climate adaptation, said National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula. During a recent meeting of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) in Nairobi, Wetang'ula urged countries to enhance laws, institutions, and domestic financing mechanisms as extreme weather events, water scarcity, and agricultural disruptions become more frequent.

He emphasized the need for Africa to contribute to its own climate action instead of relying solely on international diplomatic efforts.

Wetang'ula proposed taxing mineral extraction and other natural resources, with part of the revenues directed towards climate mitigation, adaptation, environmental restoration, and protection of vulnerable communities. He argued that Africa's abundant natural resources should be utilized as part of the solution to climate change, rather than being left to individual countries to manage.

The proposed Model Law on Climate Change for Africa aims to provide a flexible framework for African Union member states, covering various aspects of climate governance, mitigation, adaptation, resilience, loss and damage, climate finance, displacement, carbon markets, climate information, compliance, access to justice, and public participation.

Wetang'ula pointed to the growing disparity between climate adaptation needs and available funding, noting that developing countries would require $310 billion to $365 billion annually by 2035 for adaptation efforts, while international public adaptation finance was only $26 billion in 2023. He called for the establishment of an African Climate Change Fund to support projects that may otherwise depend on uncertain external financing.

The PAP delegation expressed support for implementing stronger continental climate-financing mechanisms, including potential taxation linked to mineral extraction. Wetang'ula highlighted the challenges faced by rural communities in Kenya, such as unpredictable planting seasons and the disappearance of once-permanent streams, emphasizing the urgent need for Africa to take action to address the impacts of climate change.