climate

Developing nations reject $250B climate deal at COP29

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At the UN’s COP29 climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, delegates from developing countries expressed disappointment over a proposed climate finance deal in which wealthy nations pledged $250 billion to poorer countries by 2035. While this amount is more than double the previous goal of $100 billion annually set 15 years ago, it still falls far short of the $1 trillion that developing nations have been requesting to cope with the impacts of climate change. “This is a slap in the face,” said Mohamed Adow from Power Shift Africa. “Our expectations were already low, but this is not something any developing country will accept.” COP29 has centered around the issue of climate finance, which requires wealthy nations to compensate developing countries for the damage caused by extreme weather events, support their adaptation efforts, and help them transition away from fossil fuels. For many developing nations, the summit represents one of the few opportunities to hold wealthy countries accountable, especially since they are often excluded from meetings of the world’s largest economies. The proposed $250 billion deal was announced later than expected, leaving many countries, analysts, and advocates frustrated and concerned about the transparency and handling of the negotiations. “These texts form a balanced and streamlined package for COP29,” summit organizers said in a statement, urging parties to carefully study the proposal to reach a consensus on the remaining issues. While wealthy nations and analysts argue that the pledged amount will be leveraged to increase overall climate funding, much of this financing will come in the form of loans—further burdening countries that are already struggling with high levels of debt.

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UN: G20 nations to lead global efforts for peace, climate action

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 UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the G20 group of developed economies to lead global efforts to promote peace, advance climate action, and ensure equitable access to emerging technologies among other challenges. “I have come to Rio with a simple message: G20 leaders must lead. G20 countries – by definition – have tremendous economic clout.
 “They wield massive diplomatic leverage. They must use it to tackle key global problems,” Guterres said Sunday in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro ahead of the G20 Leaders’ Summit, according to UN News. Stressing the urgency for nations to accelerate efforts in addressing critical shared challenges, he called for intensified efforts to achieve peace in Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine, and Sudan. “Everywhere, peace requires actions grounded in the values of the UN Charter, the rule of law, and the principles of sovereignty, political independence and the territorial integrity of States,” Guterres said. Addressing financial issues, the UN secretary-general drew attention to the challenges faced by vulnerable countries, which are grappling with significant obstacles beyond their control. He criticized the current international financial system as “outdated, ineffective, and unfair,” noting that it fails to provide these nations with adequate support. Guterres stressed the need for ambitious reforms under the Pact for the Future to make the global financial system more inclusive and reflective of today’s economy.
 Key measures include increasing developing countries’ representation in financial institutions, boosting Multilateral Development Banks’ lending capacity, fostering inclusive tax cooperation, and pursuing innovative financing. He urged the G20 to take the lead in implementing these changes.
 Guterres expressed concern about the pace of the negotiations at COP29, urging G20 nations to agree on ambitious climate finance goals to support developing countries.
 Stressing the necessity for leadership and trust-building to drive high-ambition climate plans, he called on the G20 as major economies and emitters to lead by example. G20 nations account for 80% of global emissions and “must lead with national climate plans that follow the guidance they agreed to last year – 1.5 degrees aligned, whole of economy and all greenhouse gases,” he said.
 Noting that solutions are still possible despite the challenges, Guterres said: “We need to seize every opportunity to lead transformative action for a safer, more peaceful and sustainable world.” Leaders of the G20 group of largest economies will meet in Rio de Janeiro on Monday and Tuesday for their annual summit in Rio de Janeiro.

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COP29 data reveals most polluting cities

Africa /

With pollution on the rise, which cities release the most emissions? Data revelaed at COP29 that Asia and the United States release the most heat-trapping gas that feeds climate change. Shanghai’s 256 million metric tons of greenhouse gases led all cities and exceeded those from Colombia and Norway. New York City’s 160 million metric tons and Houston’s 150 million metric tons is in the top 50 of countrywide emissions whilst Seoul in South Korea, ranks fifth among cities to be the most polluting. China, India, Iran, Indonesia and Russia had the biggest increases in emissions from 2022 to 2023, while Venezuela, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States had the biggest decreases in pollution. The data set – maintained by scientists and analysts from various groups – also looked at traditional pollutants such as carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, ammonia, sulphur dioxide and other chemicals associated with dirty air. With these alarmings figures, nations at the UN climate talks in Baku, are trying to set new targets to cut such emissions and figure out how much rich nations will pay to help the world with that task. A report by an independent panel of experts at the summit said countries need to invest more than $6 trillion per year by 2030 or risk having to pay more in the future.

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Zimbabwe farmers turn to climate-smart agriculture

Africa /

In Zimbabwe’s arid regions, farmers like Gertrude Siduna and Muchaneta Mutowa are turning to climate-smart agriculture to cope with harsh environmental conditions. Thanks to training funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), they’ve learned to adapt by cultivating crops and using technologies suited to the country’s changing climate. Gertrude Siduna, a 49-year-old farmer from Chipinge district, has shifted from growing corn to cultivating chilies. This change has significantly improved her livelihood. “I just pick the chilies from the fields and take them to the nearby Cargill processing center,” she says. “It’s simple, and the income is steady—about $400 in my first year of harvest.” This income has provided financial stability in an area where droughts often threaten traditional crops like corn. Muchaneta Mutowa, another beneficiary of climate-smart initiatives, has gained access to solar-powered water technology, which provides reliable water for her village. “Before, we had to fetch water from distant riverbeds,” she explains. “Now, with solar technology, we have water flowing from taps—it’s a game changer.” In Chiredzi, farmer Kenias Chikamhi also recognizes that growing traditional corn has become increasingly unreliable due to recurring droughts. He now sees crops like millet, which are more drought-resistant, as a viable alternative.

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Global leaders convene in Baku for COP29, seek climate solutions

Africa /

 The 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) commenced in Baku on Monday, bringing together world leaders, policymakers, and activists with a renewed commitment to address intensifying climate crises. Running until Nov. 22, the event will focus on urgent discussions around global warming, climate adaptation, and sustainability. With extreme weather events on the rise and average global temperatures reaching unprecedented levels, COP29 presents a crucial platform for advancing solutions. “COP29 will bring together leaders from governments, business, and civil society to advance concrete solutions to the defining issue of our time,” the UN noted, emphasizing the need for collaboration to combat the escalating impacts of climate change. A primary focus at this year’s conference is climate finance. The UN highlights the need for trillions of dollars to assist nations in significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions while building resilience against climate-driven threats. “A key focus of COP29 will be on finance, as trillions of dollars are required for countries to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect lives and livelihoods from the worsening impacts of climate change,” the organization stated. Established in 1992, the UNFCCC treaty arose from the initial findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), with the goal of stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations to prevent severe human-driven disruptions to the climate. Since its inception, the UNFCCC has underpinned global climate agreements such as the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 and the Paris Agreement in 2015. The convention’s 198 member countries meet annually to assess progress and negotiate collective responses to the climate crisis. This year’s conference in Baku promises a renewed emphasis on actionable commitments and innovative funding mechanisms to drive global progress.

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Women in Senegal demand climate justice ahead of COP29 summit

Africa /

Ahead of the COP29 summit in Azerbaijan, women in Senegal marched through Dakar on Saturday to demand climate justice. Approximately 50 activists gathered to call for the protection of the country’s resources and a decarbonized future. Cheikh Niang Faye, a former tour guide, expressed frustration over four years of protests yielding little change. “They’re spending billions on conferences but owe us billions in compensation. It’s the industrialized nations that have caused these greenhouse gases,” she stated. This year, record floods in Senegal have affected tens of thousands and damaged over 1,000 hectares of crops. Activists argue that those responsible for emissions owe Africa reparations for the climate-related suffering. Khady Faye, an activist from the Saloum Delta, emphasized the need to protect local communities from coastal erosion exacerbated by oil drilling. She urged, “Leave the gas at Sangomar underground, and let the community live normally. We want climate justice.” Khady Camara, the march’s main organizer, called for countries to respect the Paris Agreement, urging polluting nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which she identified as the root of Africa’s climate catastrophes.

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