NGOs advocate climate finance to support mitigation, adaptation measures in Africa

By our Reporter

Some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) on Monday called for equitable climate finance that would support both mitigation and adaptation measures in Africa.

Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Centre for Transparency Advocacy and Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) made the call at the third National Climate Change
Conference themed “Channelling Action Towards Just, Sustainable Climate Finance” in Abuja.

The Executive Director of CAPPA, Mr Akinbode Oluwafemi, said that Nigeria, Africa, and the rest of the Global South were bearing the biggest brunt of climate crises despite their insignificant contributions to global emissions.

Oluwafemi expressed concern over the disposition of polluters who deliberately refused to accept historical liabilities and commit to reparatory justice through progressive and sustainable grants and not loans, for climate change financing.

“Climate activists and rights movements across the world including the Demand for Climate Justice (DCJ), Climate Action Network (CAN), and Africa Make Big Polluters Pay (MBPP) have called for the declaration of a state of emergency on climate financing.

“They also called for an initial demand of five trillion dollars in climate finance annually in the next five years as a down payment to the Global South as a matter of urgency and justice.

“It is believed that this modest demand will only attempt to cover mitigation and adaptation measures.

“Besides, we are also worried that the delay in the operationalisation of the Loss and Damage Fund and the wish of the United States of America to retain control over it will only aid the repeat of the system that created the mess we are in,” CAPPA boss said.
According to him, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that global investment and financial flows of 200–210 billion dollars will be needed by 2030 to meet the global greenhouse gas emission target of below 1.5 degrees set in the Paris Agreement.
“Africa will need a significant amount of the funds to adapt to climate change and limit the impact of the warming.
“It is estimated that the region will need an average of 250 billion dollars per year in climate finance between 2020 and 2030 against the paltry sum of 30 billion dollars it received in 2020, which is about 12 per cent of the amount needed.

“Additionally, the private sector is also expected to help in the mobilisation of 213.4 billion dollars annually with Multilateral Development Banks deploying more than 10 billion dollars to bridge the financing gap.
“Though minimal compared to the quantum of devastations caused by climate crises in the region including Nigeria, not up to 20 per cent of the said funds have been raised,” he said.
In her remarks, Ms Faith Nwadishi, the Executive Director, Centre for Transparency Advocacy, said the recent devastating incident caused by flooding in Bornu state also illustrated the urgent need for effective climate finance.
Nwadishi said that the global climate crisis demands urgent action, with its impacts most acute in vulnerable regions, particularly in the Global South.
“The 2023 climate inequality report by World inequality lab shows that the bottom 50 per cent of the world’s population bears 75 per cent of relative climate losses, contributes only 12 per cent to emissions, and has just two per cent of the capacity to finance.
“While the top 10 per cent contributes 48 per cent of emissions, experiences only three per cent of losses, and holds 76 per cent of the financial capacity.
“This disproportionate effect highlights the need for equitable climate finance—financial flows that support both mitigation and adaptation efforts in developing nations.
“As COP29 approaches, global policymakers have an opportunity to shape a more inclusive financial landscape that prioritises the communities most impacted by climate change,” she said
Also, Mr Nnimmo Bassey, the Executive Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), while speaking on key climate justice issues, said, “temperatures must be kept below 1.5oC above pre-industrial levels.
“Remaining carbon budget must be divided equitably according to CBDR, capacity and right to sustainable societies.”
According to him, climate struggle requires a reining in crass exploitation of humans and of mother earth. It requires the recognition of an ecological debts as well as historical responsibility and current neo-colonial relations with natures.