Africa Leaders Call for Fossil Fuel Tax and Climate Finance

The first-ever Africa Climate Summit concluded yesterday with a resounding call for global action on climate change. Leaders from across the continent, representing a population of 1.3 billion people, united in adopting the ‘Nairobi Declaration.’

This declaration urged world leaders to support a global carbon tax on fossil fuels, aviation, and maritime transport, while also advocating for crucial reforms in the world financial system that disproportionately affect African nations.

Read also: Pastor Dorcas Rigathi Urges Women to Take Up Climate Action

In a united adoption of the declaration, African leaders emphasized the pressing need for wealthier countries and the world’s major greenhouse gas emitters to fulfill their promises made over a decade ago, particularly the commitment to provide Ksh14.6Trillion annually in climate finance to developing nations.

“No country should ever have to choose between development aspirations and climate action,” the declaration firmly states.

President William Ruto of Kenya announced that a total of Ksh 3.4 Trillion in commitments had been pledged during the event, marking a significant step towards addressing Africa’s climate and development challenges.

The summit aimed to reshape Africa’s role in the global climate discourse, emphasizing the continent’s vast reserves of clean energy minerals and renewable energy sources as a crucial part of the solution to climate change.

However, not all voices in Africa were together in their support for this approach.

Some expressed concern over investments from richer countries, which allow them to continue polluting while making green investments in Africa.

“We reject forced solutions on our land,” exclaimed Priscilla Achakpa, founder of the Women Environmental Programme.

She urged the “Global North” to “remove yourself from the perspective of the colonial past.”

Despite these differences, the summit represents Africa’s proactive approach to climate change, setting the stage for the United Nations climate change conference scheduled for Dubai in December.

Read also: Kenya’s Rural Growth: Clean Energy for Climate Resilience

Simon Stiell, the executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, acknowledged the challenges in bridging gaps among communities with differing opinions, saying, “Heading from event to event doesn’t leave us with a lot of constructive thinking time.”

One significant focus of the summit was the carbon markets, where polluters offset emissions by investing in tree-planting or conservation initiatives.

In Africa, these carbon markets offer a more cost-effective option compared to other regions with stricter regulations.

In Africa’s carbon market, the continent earns less than $10 per ton of carbon, while in other regions, the same amount can fetch over Ksh 14.6 Trillion.

The voluntary carbon market, which remains dominant in Africa, has faced criticism for lacking transparency and integrity.

Subscribe to Switch TV 

The African Climate Summit, with its ‘Nairobi Declaration,’ has made a bold statement on the global stage, calling for action on climate change, climate finance, and a fair transition to a sustainable future for all.

As the world gears up for the UN climate conference in Dubai, Africa’s voice is poised to be a pivotal force in shaping the future of our planet.

This summit has laid the groundwork for a more inclusive and equitable approach to tackling climate change, as leaders from across Africa unite to champion the cause of a greener and more sustainable future.