Cop 28 Dubai Summit 2023: African CSOs Biodiversity Alliance calls for ‘Urgent and Equitable Just Transitions’

By Phyllis MUCHOKI

The African CSOs Biodiversity Alliance is calling for an “urgent, real and equitable just transitions,” ahead of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) that kicked off today in Dubai (UAE) – with the two-week summit expected to end in December 12.

Some of those actions the lobbyist said, must be “rooted in respect for traditional knowledge and equity in climate solutions.”

It now hopes that through its participation in the UAE, it will seek to promote people and biodiversity-positive climate solutions, explore partnerships and collaboration with like-minded networks and CSOs.

To this end, the organization is optimistic that such efforts will yield the much-needed outcome at the crucial COP 28 conference and that it will “collectively influence climate outcomes that benefit Africa and participate in lobbying for reforming climate finance to increase funding to African Governments and IPLCs at the frontline of biodiversity and climate challenges.”

The African CSOs Biodiversity Alliance, a network of African Indigenous Peoples, local communities, youth, women, small-scale farmers and NGOs, will have its delegation at the conference.

ACBA says it provides a platform for African CSOs to speak with one voice on issues of sustainable use of nature that contribute to conservation and equitable benefits from nature.

Its members are African CSOs, and it facilitates sharing of lessons, creates opportunities for collaboration, and influences national, regional, continental and global biodiversity policy processes and practices.

It is important that parties prioritize actions expediting the implementation of climate initiatives before 2030.

At COP28, governments must deliver on two-time frames: a surge in climate action now, and a springboard for next two crucial years, and beyond. In Dubai, governments must agree what bolder actions need to be taken and how to deliver them.

Overarching themes to watch out for at COP28

Emissions mitigation targets, phase out fossil fuel, Financing from developed nations, focus on industry-led solutions, low-carbon innovation, differences between developed and developing nations, progress on operationalizing Paris Agreement Article, reform role of private sector investment and proxy for other issues and relations restoration.

The past year has seen more record-breaking temperatures and extreme weather events around the world, from drought to catastrophic storms and floods that have devastated lives, economies, and ecosystems. No part of the world is untouched by the impacts of climate change.

It is feared that the global community runs the risk of facing even more serious and irreversible damage to society and ecosystems if worldwide warming exceeds 1.5°C. Every fraction of a degree matters now to help people and nature.

As a result, the main objective of COP28 is to assess global efforts to keep the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels within reach.

It was a rallying call that was unanimously agreed by 195 countries in the Paris Agreement in 2015.

To achieve this goal, countries will need to, among other things, phase out fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas), while accelerating the transition to clean energy from renewable sources. This is the most effective way to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Fossil fuel emissions kept rising globally during 2023. Between November 2022 and November 2023, the annual growth rate of CO2 in the atmosphere was 2 ppm meaning that the fossil fuel emissions were not reduced during 2023.

It is another year lost in reaching the goals of the Paris Agreement. We need to reduce fossil fuel emissions drastically, with no delay. There is no alternative to that reduction.

“Therefore, funding for climate must be delivered where it matters most, with a focus on accessibility, particularly for IPLCs. The alliance calls for a universally agreed definition of climate finance and cautions against double accounting practices. The operationalization of the loss and damage fund is urgent,” ACBA notes in its uniting call.

Other areas of concerns for the alliance include food sovereignty, which it says must see every citizen have access to nutritious, abundant, affordable and culturally appropriate food – adoption of agroecology, clean, affordable and accessible energy taking advantage of Africa’s abundant renewable energy sources as well as sustainable debt.

“Many African countries are today facing a debt crisis and have limited fiscal space to invest in economic and social development. Without reforming the global financial architecture so that debt is sustainable, developing countries will struggle to respond to the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss,” it noted.

This year’s COP holds significance in the wake of geopolitical risks that have come to forth after the Israel-Hamas war and Russia’s ongoing “special military operation” in Ukraine.