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The changing role of Africa in fighting the climate crisis
- elizabeth1207
- Nov 29, 2023
- 8 min read
My name is Emmanuel Okasiba and I am a young person living in Nairobi, Kenya. I champion, share and create awareness on the causes of climate change, as well as the steps being taken to mitigate the impacts. In this blog post I write about what the continent of Africa is doing in the fight against climate change, including Kenya, and how this role is changing - with some significant action and events having taken place in 2023.
Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Climate change is already affecting every region on Earth. Changes in rainfall patterns, rising sea levels, melting glaciers, a warming ocean and more frequent and intense extreme weather events are just some of the changes already impacting millions of people[i]. Climate change can affect crucial aspects of our lives such as: our health, growing food, our homes and work. Threats like sea-level rise have advanced to the point where whole communities have had to relocate, especially those living on small islands and in lowland areas. The number people displaced by climate change is expected to increase[ii]. Over the next decades, it is predicted that billions of people, particularly those in developing countries, will face shortages of water and food, as well as greater risks to health and life, because of climate change[iii] .
Just to side bar that we can safely say that climate change is a hot topic. For example, did you know that, in the past, natural changes in the sun’s activity or large volcanic eruptions caused ancient and natural shifts in the Earth’s temperatures and weather patterns - but these natural causes have not in fact significantly affected global temperatures? However, since the 1800s, it’s human activities like the burning of fossil fuels (i.e. coal, oil, and gas) that are causing changes to our climate, such as temperature increases, which are already having devastating impacts. Find more essential facts here and share them, at this link. Also, for 10 ways you can fight the climate crises please see here.
Who is fighting climate change?
A phenomenal amount of work is already being carried out by many countries and organisations, on assessing the impacts and vulnerabilities to climate change, as well as considering and implementing adaptation and resilience options[iv]. In Africa, many countries and organisations are working together to combat climate change. It is becoming increasingly recognised that the African continent is impacted by climate change more than some other parts of the world (along with other regions), even though it is, overall, less of the cause[v]. In addition to the global impacts noted in this blog, many countries in Africa are already facing severe challenges including drought, desertification, increasing cyclones, leading to displacement, migration, and food crises[vi].
Kenya’s role and effort
Kenya is one of the leading countries in Africa fighting the causes and impact of climate change. Multiple programmes have emerged ranging from NGOs, INGOs, UN, Government Ministries, community leaders, schools, individuals and academic and research.
To give one example, the president of the republic of Kenya, Dr. William Samoei Ruto, has launched a programme that strives to plant 100 million trees countrywide and named 13 November 2023 a public holiday. The aim of this day was for people to gather and plant trees (see photo below) to better the environment and work towards mitigating climate change risks[viii]. Other initiatives in Kenya have also included geothermal and clean energy development, to reduce Kenya's carbon footprint. Geothermal is becoming recognised as a clean and environmentally friendly energy source, having no air pollution or greenhouse gas emissions (notwithstanding the counter issues to use of geothermal, including to date a lack of clear international assessment guidelines and standards)[ix]. Overall, Kenya has put in place a range of activities and measures to pursue a low carbon and climate-resilient development pathway to help transform Kenya into a newly industrialising and middle-income country[x].
Africa Climate Summit 2023
The African Union, the international committee and African leaders state came to an agreement that the first African Climate Summit (ACS) should be held in Africa. From 4-8 September 2023, Kenya hosted the inaugural ACS and the Youth Climate Week Summit in Nairobi, demonstrating Kenya’s commitment to and in addressing climate change and its impacts. Themes included growth, as well as climate finance and solutions for Africa and globally.
Participants in the summit included African Heads of State and Government, stakeholders across governments, United Nations agencies, NGOs, the private sector, international and civil society organisations, local communities’ leaders, farmer organisations, academic institutions, youth, men and women.
The aim was to foster dialogue, exhibit innovative initiatives, cultural partnership, and share best practice resonating with the summit core themes[xi]. We at Links Research & Evaluation attended the summit, including several fringe events. Delegates and organisations based globally presented priorities and initiatives for fighting the causes and impacts of climate change, with a special focus on climate financing to support mitigation and adaption – including for rural communities. Another key theme we observed was the call to hear the voice of women as climate change worsens all existing inequalities for women and girls.
The Nairobi Declaration
During the Africa Climate Summit, a declaration was made to make a strong push for accelerated climate action and financing mechanisms for Africa. In this call to action and agreement, the Nairobi Declaration, African leaders stressed the importance of decarbonising the global economy for equality and shared prosperity. They also called for urgent action by higher income countries to reduce carbon emissions and proposed a new financing mechanism to restructure Africa’s crippling debt and unlock climate funding. They called for investment to promote the sustainable use of Africa’s natural assets for the continent’s transition to low carbon development and contribution to global decarbonisation. Click here to read the Nairobi Declaration.
The African Youth Climate Assembly (AYCA) and youth declaration
Young people globally and across the Africa continent are actively and widely involved in climate change projects, training and other awareness raising activities. Some of the aims of these include conserving the environment and improving their wellbeing through job employment and other income generating activities[xii]. In Nairobi, the county government has initiated the Green Army, which comprises of the youths, men and women in conservation activities, such as clean up operations (see photo below) [xiii].
This was reflected by the first ever African Youth Climate Assembly (AYCA), from 1-3 September 2023 also in Kenya, which preceded the ACS. Both aimed to set the pace for African Governments to steer and set priorities for climate action across the continent. They also intended to contribute to the agenda for the global platform of COP 28 (see more on this below).
During the youth assembly, a Youth Declaration set out their ambition, also as a precursor to the ACS. Gender inclusivity and youth innovation empowerment were in the picture for addressing the climate change crisis.
Some of the key priorities set out included:
Stakeholders to strengthen the capacity of young people on climate change mitigation efforts.
Build the capacity of youth with disability, their inclusion, expertise, and access to resources in responding to slow onset climate.
Academic and research institutions, governments, research funding agencies, and the private sector to invest in youth-led research, innovation and data gathering initiatives to identify local challenges and solutions.
The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP)
The United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as the ‘Conference of the Parties’ or ‘COP’, brings together world leaders, ministers, and negotiators to agree on how to address climate change (each year unless the parties decide differently). The COPs are also attended by thousands of representatives from civil society, the private sector, international organizations, and the media. At the United Nations climate change conference in Paris in 2015, COP 21, governments agreed that mobilising stronger and more ambitious climate action is urgently required to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. Action must come from governments, cities, regions, businesses, and investors. Everyone has a role to play in effectively implementing the Paris Agreement[xv]. Other major agreements include the Kyoto Protocol.
The next COP 28 will be held from 30 November until 12 December 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). COP 28 comes at a decisive moment for international climate action. Temperature records are being repeatedly broken and climate impacts felt in unprecedented wildfires, floods, storms and droughts worldwide. The UN’s Global Stocktake synthesis report has already showed that there is much more to be done, to meet the goals of the landmark Paris Agreement. Read about the global stocktake here.
COP 28 presents a critical opportunity to put the world on a more sustainable path. In a letter to parties in July 2023, the incoming presidency announced that COP 28 will focus on four paradigm shifts[1]:
Fast-tracking the energy transition and slashing emissions before 2030;
Transforming climate finance, by delivering on old promises and setting the framework for a new deal on finance;
Putting nature, people, lives, and livelihoods at the heart of climate action; and
Mobilising for the most inclusive COP ever.
The letter also outlined a three-fold vision to course correct that includes a negotiated outcome, an action agenda, and a call to action. Read the letter at this link.
Conclusion
Increasingly the African continent is setting the priorities for climate change, including taking specific leading roles, such as demonstrated by Kenya in 2023. The global community is working tirelessly across different roles and will increasingly look to see the next developments coming from this region of the world. This region is not only affected by the impacts of climate change but is also leading the fight and advocating for reducing the causes and mitigating the effects, as well as how to increase adaption and resilience. Look out for the next blog for an update about what took place at COP 28 (and other upcoming events) and what this could mean for the global response to climate change.
About Links Research & Evaluation
Links Research & Evaluation is an independent consultancy agency, based in Kenya. We support humanitarian, resilience and social justice actors with independent evaluations, assessments, studies and M&E strategies/dashboards, taking an international focus.
Links Research & Evaluation focuses on the humanitarian sectors of: food security, livelihoods, health, nutrition, multi purpose cash assistance, education in emergencies and protection. Thematic areas are: climate change adaption, resilience, natural resource management, level of localisation, migration, safe access to assistance, feminist approaches and gender. Links Research & Evaluation has experience and works in the East and Horn of Africa, Central Arica, West Africa, Ukraine, Syrian Crisis Response & South East Asia. We work in partnership with consultants around the globe to enhance the range and depth of services we offer.
We are experienced at working with national and international organisations, consortiums, working groups and clusters. We work to ensure a participatory design process, as well as training enumerators in-person or remotely. We prioritise robust qualitative and statistical data analysis, as well as inclusive, ethical and quality data collection.
Blog sources and references:
[1] https://unfccc.int/cop28 [i] IPCC [ii] www.un.org [iii] https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/publications/impacts.pdf [iv] https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/publications/impacts.pdf [v] www.brookings.edu/articles/africa-can-play-a-leading-role-in-the-fight-against-climate-change/#:~:text=Delivering%20the%20benefits%20of%20a,sustainable%20food%20and%20land%20use [vi] https://www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/september-2023/africa-climate-summit-nairobi-declaration-makes-strong-push-accelerated [vii] https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/2023-11/2023-USAID-Kenya-Climate-Change-Profile.pdf [viii] NATIONAL TREE PLANTING INTIATIVE LAUNCH – The National Treasury [ix] https://unece.org/sustainable-energy/sustainable-resource-management/unfc-and-geothermal-energy#:~:text=It%20is%20a%20clean%20and,elements%20in%20the%20Earth's%20core. [x] www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/2023-11/2023-USAID-Kenya-Climate-Change-Profile.pdf [xi] https://africaclimatesummit.org/news [xii] https://www.unicef.org/stories/young-climate-activists-demand-action-inspire-hope [xiii] https://www.the-star.co.ke/climate-change/ [xiv] https://media.africaclimatesummit.org/ACS+Africa+Youth+Climate+Assembly+Declaration+AYCA_231003_200635.pdf?request-content-type=%22application/force-download%22 [xv] https://unfccc.int/climate-action/introduction-climate-action [xvi] Global Stocktake | UNFCCC [1] https://unfccc.int/cop28 [i] IPCC [ii] www.un.org [iii] https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/publications/impacts.pdf [iv] https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/publications/impacts.pdf [v] www.brookings.edu/articles/africa-can-play-a-leading-role-in-the-fight-against-climate-change/#:~:text=Delivering%20the%20benefits%20of%20a,sustainable%20food%20and%20land%20use [vi] https://www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/september-2023/africa-climate-summit-nairobi-declaration-makes-strong-push-accelerated [vii] https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/2023-11/2023-USAID-Kenya-Climate-Change-Profile.pdf [viii] NATIONAL TREE PLANTING INTIATIVE LAUNCH – The National Treasury [ix] https://unece.org/sustainable-energy/sustainable-resource-management/unfc-and-geothermal-energy#:~:text=It%20is%20a%20clean%20and,elements%20in%20the%20Earth's%20core. [x] www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/2023-11/2023-USAID-Kenya-Climate-Change-Profile.pdf [xi] https://africaclimatesummit.org/news [xii] https://www.unicef.org/stories/young-climate-activists-demand-action-inspire-hope [xiii] https://www.the-star.co.ke/climate-change/ [xiv] https://media.africaclimatesummit.org/ACS+Africa+Youth+Climate+Assembly+Declaration+AYCA_231003_200635.pdf?request-content-type=%22application/force-download%22 [xv] https://unfccc.int/climate-action/introduction-climate-action [xvi] Global Stocktake | UNFCCC [xvii] https://www.cop28.com/en/letter-to-parties
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