Africa seeks funding, capacity-building to advance climate empowerment

The African Group of Negotiators (AGN) for Climate Change has urged for enhanced funding, technology transfer, and capacity-building to assist African nations in fulfilling their climate empowerment commitments prior to the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31). Nana Dr Antwi-Boasiako Amoah, AGN Chair, emphasized that climate agreements and national policies would only yield meaningful results when individuals and organizations possess the requisite knowledge, expertise, and resources to convert them into practical action.

Addressing the opening of a strategic meeting on Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) in Monrovia, Liberia, Dr Amoah stressed that Africa must progress from acknowledging the importance of climate education, public awareness, and participation to ensuring those commitments yield tangible outcomes at the national and community levels.

He pointed out that climate data is often presented in formats that are difficult for communities to comprehend and apply, and many institutions tasked with executing national climate commitments struggle with financial and technical constraints. Additionally, women, young people, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable communities continue to encounter obstacles in participating effectively in climate decision-making processes.

"Climate empowerment extends beyond merely disseminating information about climate change; it involves enabling people to grasp risks, influence decisions, and act accordingly," Dr Amoah explained. The Action for Climate Empowerment, as outlined in Article 6 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Article 12 of the Paris Agreement, encompasses climate education, training, public awareness, public involvement, access to information, and international collaboration.

Dr Amoah suggested that the halfway review of the Glasgow work programme, initiated at SB64 in Bonn, presents a chance to bolster the execution of ACE commitments. He stated that Africa's participation in COP31 should be guided by the practical experiences of member states and centered on obtaining backing for national implementation.

The upcoming ACE action plan, he added, should assist countries in strengthening institutions, implementing existing commitments more effectively, and showcasing progress in a manner that reflects their national circumstances and capacities. Dr Amoah underscored that climate empowerment could enhance the quality of adaptation planning when women and local communities are meaningfully involved in decisions impacting their livelihoods.

Accessible scientific information could enable farmers to make informed choices regarding planting, while bolstering the capacity of local authorities to convey climate risks could improve climate governance. Dr Amoah called for enhanced coordination between African negotiators and national ACE focal points to ensure a unified continental stance during negotiations and sustained action thereafter.

He also advocated for leveraging the upcoming COP32, scheduled to occur on the African continent, to demonstrate Africa's leadership in linking climate policy with the needs of its people. "The true measure of climate diplomacy lies not solely in what we negotiate, but in what our countries and communities are empowered to accomplish," Dr Amoah concluded.