Wanjira Mathai, an environmental campaigner, said that the current Africa climate summit in Nairobi is a very important moment for Africa to stand together and take big steps towards a better future.
Ms Mathai, the daughter of Prof Wangari Mathai who won the Nobel Peace Prize, is saying that Africa is showing leadership by finding solutions to its problems. Africa has lots of renewable energy, important minerals, and a young workforce that is growing quickly.
But she said on the BBC’s Newsday show that we cannot adjust to extreme poverty. This needs to be about economic growth that is focused on reducing carbon emissions, being environmentally sustainable, and including everyone in the process.
She said that she wants to see a strong effort for fair and equal access to global markets for products made with clean energy in Africa.
Furthermore, she mentioned that African countries need to have “fair and equal opportunities to obtain financial resources”.
This is one of the most important things that people want. The global financial system is unfair to Africa, as Africa has to pay eight times more for financial services compared to the rest of the world. “I think that finance is very important, just like technology and knowledge,” she said.
Tag: Africa Climate Summit
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Growth ‘with dignity’ the focus of Africa Climate Summit
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African climate summit taken over by the West – campaigners claim
Many people from different African countries are protesting the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi. They believe that the event has been taken over by big companies and governments from the Western world.
The organizers referred to the march as a “different meeting” compared to the main conference happening at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city.
They say that the plans for the summit have been taken over by companies, consultants, and organizations that support the West and are pushing their own interests.
We are here to show how strong people can be. Hardi Yakubu, from the African Rising Movement, said that what is happening at KICC is benefiting the large companies that are causing pollution.
In a letter to Kenya’s President William Ruto, more than 100 organizations and climate change groups from Africa and other countries asked African leaders to avoid “fake solutions like carbon markets, where rich countries can keep polluting. ”
Teresa Anderson, from the charity ActionAid, says that the formal summit created a space for corporations to show themselves as the solution to climate change, while leaving out the people who are actually affected.
They want to create a group of African experts to change the summit’s plan, center on renewable energy, encourage open conversations between citizens and policymakers, and make sure there is enough money for climate efforts. -
Accra to host the maiden edition Africa Women, Children Conference in August
The inaugural Africa Women and Children Conference (AFRIWOCC), a crucial platform aimed at addressing the impact of climate change on women and children, is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, August 2, and Thursday, August 3, at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra.
This conference is an initiative of the Samira Empowerment and Humanitarian Projects (SEHP), operating under the auspices of the office of the President, and it will be conducted under the theme “Amplifying the Voices of Women and Children in Climate Action.”
The main objectives of the conference are to advocate for policies that prioritize the interests of women and children in climate change regulations and development, discuss practical and realistic projects to tackle the adverse effects of climate change on women and children, and document indigenous knowledge and innovation related to climate change.
The event will bring together diverse participants from various backgrounds, including high-level government officials, policymakers, renowned experts, representatives from international organizations, civil society members, and grassroots community leaders.
The conference recognizes that as natural resource-dependent individuals and caretakers, women and children experience significant challenges to their livelihoods, health, and well-being due to climate change. Therefore, urgent actions are required to address their unique vulnerabilities in climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.
Distinguished guests, such as the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Amina J. Mohammed, and the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonja-Iweala, are expected to make appearances during the event.
At the conclusion of the conference, a communique will be signed, signifying a collective commitment to action. This document will serve as a guiding framework for governments, civil society, and the private sector, emphasizing the prioritization of the rights and well-being of women and children in climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.
The outcomes and feedback generated from AFRIWOCC 2023 will be presented at the Africa Climate Week and Africa Climate Summit, which are scheduled for Monday, September 4, to Wednesday, September 6, 2023, in Nairobi, Kenya. These discussions will play a vital role in shaping Africa’s stance at the upcoming United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties’ twenty-eighth session (COP 28), slated to take place from Thursday, November 30, to Tuesday, December 12, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
AFRIWOCC 2023 signifies a critical moment in the quest for gender-responsive and people-centered climate policies in Africa. By amplifying the voices of women and children and promoting inclusive and sustainable climate action, this conference has the potential to make a lasting impact, drive transformative change, and build a more resilient future for all amid the challenges posed by climate change.