Over 70 climate negotiators representing 35 African countries gathered in Nairobi this week for a landmark summit aimed at unifying the continent’s strategy for global climate negotiations. The two-day Special Session of the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN) focuses on securing fair financing, adaptation support, and accountability for climate-induced losses ahead of December’s COP28 summit.
Building a Unified Front
Africa faces the harshest impacts of climate change despite contributing just 4% of global emissions. Delegates emphasized the urgency of 'climate justice' in speeches, with AGN Chair Ephraim Mwepya Shitima stating: \"We must speak with one voice to ensure developed nations honor their $100 billion climate finance pledge.\"
The Road to COP28
Key priorities include establishing a loss-and-damage fund for climate-vulnerable nations and boosting renewable energy investments. Kenya’s Environment Minister Soipan Tuya highlighted Africa’s potential to lead in green tech: \"Our youth deserve solutions, not sympathy.\" The meeting comes as heatwaves and droughts escalate across East Africa.
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African negotiators meet in Kenya to promote climate justice
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