Inaugural Africa Climate Summit In The Wake Of A Hostile Planet.

By Jude Thaddeus.

Nature has always had it’s unique adoptive capabilities in finding an equilibrium since its existance. And so have the animals in it - especially in the Wild.

A wild bird in the jungle for instance, while laying up to ten (10) eggs, is rest assured that if those eggs are hatched, there are some birds that will survive to maturity, even if some end up being claimed by nature.

The wild birds’ adoptation to its survival, rests in its capacity to lay many eggs, so that as some eggs fall off and break on rocks, others remain. And while some of those that get hatched, either get eaten by predators, or die due to environmental factors, some again, still survive to maturity. The more the numbers, the increased chances of survival and continuity.

Nature again, in it’s uniqueness, gives and takes. While oxygen is required by some (for instance animals), carbon dioxide is required by others (for instance plants), creating again an equilibrium.

As Kenya hosts the inaugural Africa Climate Summit (ACS23), in readiness for the COP28 Summit in Dubai later in the year, my big question is, ‘How prepared are the World leaders in finding an equilibrium to the Climate crisis?’

At the Centre of this Africa Climate Summit co-hosted by Kenya’s President Dr. Ruto and the African Union, lies Climate Action —Mitigation and Adoptation FINANCING.

But before taking a look into this aspect of financing, let’s delve a bit into the nitty gritties of Climate Change.

Kenya, the host Country for the summit, has experienced four (4) consecutive failed rain seasons. With alternate episodes of severe drought and flash floods throughout the period.

This, an indication of climate change. A change that is being witnessed in various fashions and intensities across the globe.

And fingers being pointed at Carbon emission. Where the global South (Kenya included) has only contributed to less than five (5) percent of the total emissions over time.

Carbon emissions being as a result of industrializations’ production and consumption patterns.

And the end results being global warming.

But there is more to Climate change than just global warming.

When a Country dependent on agriculture is hit by drought for instance, the farmers have no produce, and the Country has no food. What this means is that, the farmer sinks deeper into poverty, and the Country deeper into debt trying to salvage the dire hunger situation.

This scenario thus can explain how climate change, in the long run, can make a poor Country, poorer. And thus partly, the reason why the global south is coming together to amplify it’s voice at the negotiating table.

Other than direct hunger, there exists several other scenarios that keep poor Countries poorer. And we can have a look at two more - or so.

1. Poor Health with increased cost of Healthcare.

The engines of production are still being driven by oil, gas and coal. And along this chain - up to consumption - there are emissions and pollution at various levels.

Factories and vehicles run by these fuels pollute the air. Which in turn is consumed by humans - who breathe it. Leading to respiratory conditions, and other lifestyle diseases that then require medical attention.

The global South is still grappling with Healthcare infrastructure and operational capital. Some of which it receives in form of foreign aid and LOANS. Meaning, the more the Healthcare sector is strained - partly as a result of issues brought about by environmental pollution, then, there are chances of the global South accumulating even more DEBT to mitigate the same.

Secondly,,

2) Tax Imposed On These Fuels to discourage their use, at present, has drastically increased the cost of production, the cost of doing business, and the cost of living in the global South.

With increased taxation and increased cost of living, even the working class have reduced disposable incomes that they would have otherwise put into savings and investment. The absence of future investment, means stagnated growth. And with stagnated growth, comes continued dependency, increased societal instability et cetera.

Even though, one method of discouraging the use of these fuels is by imposing huge taxation along the chain, the World needs to be alive to the fact that, without alternative, cheaper and accessible renewable energy in sight, the well being of those in the global South remains in limbo.

3) Thirdly, and tied to the aspect of production, is the costs involved in having electronic gadgets and technology for use in the global South.

Cost, in this case will be in two forms.

a) High cost of electronic appliances and gadgets that are needed by humans in the global South - who can least afford them.

For instance, if an electric vehicle is to substitute a fossil driven one, then, it has to be more affordable than the latter.

b) The cost of ‘dumping’ electronic gadgets in the global South.

It is so common to find a big market of ‘refurbished’ electronic gadgets in the global south. From computers, phones and others that are today key in enabling the digital economies - and literally a wider range of other economies.

Also, very common to find the disposal / dumping of the same, and the broken ones in the global south. Aspects that are also contributing to carbon emissions. And thus contributing into the Climate change crisis.

With that eloboration, and now that we are already in the crisis, we can then delve into the elephant in the room.

Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation - Compensation / Financing.

The clarion call for African leaders from COP27 was on compensation. That, it is the developed World that is responsible for the 95 percent of damage, and so, they need to compensate financially to reverse the harsh effects.

Beyond and above that, the Africa Climate Summit is calling for financing the transition from Fossil fuels to renewable energy.

Well, this is an ongoing conversation into the COP28 to be held in Dubai. But a number of proposals and offers are already at play.

1) One being a balance between Debt Cancelation and Debt Swap.

President Ruto has reiterated the need for debt cancelation so as to make available some money for African countries to channel into addressing the adverse Climate change effects.

The debt question in general sees African Countries borrow loans at very high interest rates that they cannot manage to repay - whichever the set repayment period. They are already tied in a debt trap, and any additional debt intake in the name of climate change Mitigation and Adoptation, will only sink these Countries deeper into misery.

This is a very good starting point for African leaders, not just due to Climate change, but also to advance the need for finacial equity and justice.

Debt Swap on its part, also boarders on a thin line with cancelation, where a lending Country can swap a certain amount of money owed by an indebted Country so that that money can be used directly as if it were newly received money.

But with this going into the COP28, more light needs to be shed. Does it mean that the swapped debt will be repayed later after addressing the immediate Climate need? Or will it be forfeited after addressing the Climate need?

Germany has already offered to swap some amount owed to it by Kenya in order for Kenya to have some available money for it to channel to Climate change Mitigation.

2) Carbon tax / Carbon credits.

In simple terms, this is like a levy charged to anyone emitting carbon into the atmosphere. And the money collected used to address Climate change issues.

However, the question being asked is, Is it okay to continue polluting the environment as long as one can pay this levy? What if the cost is transfered to the end consumer making the cost of living even higher?

Well, that is for us to wait and see.

But the end game is to is discourage process that emit greenhouse emissions, while incentivizing renewable energy.

3) One method of adaptation to Climate change - especially when it comes to agriculture, is the adoptation of drought resistant yields. Which takes shorter periods between planting and harvesting. However, there still exists a debate in the global south since most technologies design genetically modified organism (GMOs) - for this. The GMO debate is not new. We wait and see how far our scientists and policy makers will disagree to agree, or vice versa.

Conclusion

The Climate Change conversation seems to be a bit verse. From science, to policy, to governance. And evidently, Countries will also want to push for their self interests.

For instance, from where I sit, I’m wondering what is going through the minds of policy makers in the global south whose economies are anchored on crude oil, gas and coal. What is the general feel in a Country where crude oil is the main income earner? And where politicians have made their vast wealth from. Will they be willing to try out alternatives?

I’m looking at Kenya where the inaugural Africa Climate Summit has just concluded, and evidently, it is home when it comes to renewable energy. And the region at large. From wind power, solar, geothermal et cetera.

But beyond this, in the larger global south, lives another resource. The human resource. Her youth.

Equipped with knowledge, and capacity, definitely, they can turn around the global Climate crisis.

Just like the birds in the Wild, with more eggs, increasing their chances for survival and continuity, the youth in the global south can, and will definetly increase the chances of the planet surviving.

About the Author;

Jude Thaddeus is an Entrepreneur, a Sociopolitical Commentator / Strategist / Advisor. And Team Lead @ Brave Politics.