Delegates at Bonn huddle to discuss the new Global Goal on Adaption text, one of the key agenda items along with climate finance. Credit: IISD/ENB – Kiara Worth.
The following commentary from Iskander Erzini Vernoit, director at IMAL, appeared in African Arguments alongside those of other Africans in the UNFCCC process.
From an African perspective, the 2024 Bonn Climate Change Conference represented a continuation of the struggle for international climate justice. Nevertheless, the bigger fight of 2024 – the new collective quantified goal (“NCQG”) on climate finance, mandated to be agreed at COP29 – is yet to come.
Of course, under ideal circumstances, Africa would not have to fight for justice. However, in Bonn, we were witness to unfortunate pushes by developed countries to avoid the language of principles of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, such as equity and common but differentiated responsibilities. Developed countries sought to discuss all finance, except that which would come from them. This included talk of “broadening of the contributor base” or “All Parties” becoming contributors. These are perceived as attempts to broaden the blame game and dilute responsibilities.
Africa will not stand for obfuscation of unmet responsibilities. On the contrary, Africa has led calls for burden-sharing frameworks to better clarify who is responsible.
In this decade of unspeakable urgency, developed countries must provide an order of magnitude more finance. All studies show they remain responsible for the great majority of climate finance. They should address their own capabilities, rather than quibbling about those of others.
Time and patience are running out. $1.3 trillion per year was the NCQG quantum that the African Group argued for in Bonn, representing Africa’s 54 countries. At COP29, Africa will have a duty to itself and to history to reject proposals that fail to be adequate to what science and justice require.