A briefing on climate change was led by environmental advocates Amos Wemanya, Fred Njehu, and Antony Otieno from Greenpeace Africa, along with Charity Migwi from Oil Change International, calls for urgent and decisive action on climate financing ahead of COP 29. The discussion highlights the devastating impacts of climate change on Africa, which contributes just 4% of global emissions but suffers disproportionately from its consequences.

Antony Otieno, a survivor of the Mai Mahiu flooding in Kenya, provided a poignant example of how climate disasters are destroying communities. In April 2024, flash floods ravaged his village, sweeping away homes, farmlands, and livestock, leaving nothing behind. Lives were lost, and livelihoods shattered. This tragedy underscores the need for effective climate finance to support affected communities in rebuilding their lives.

Africa has recently experienced a series of climate-related disasters. Flooding in Kenya, cyclones in Mozambique that claimed thousands of lives, and floods in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape regions, as well as the current flooding in Nigeria affecting 11 states, are a grim reminder of the escalating crisis. The speakers stressed that COP 29 must deliver on promises for international climate financing that address these specific challenges.

While African countries are at the forefront of climate change impacts, they are left to rely on climate financing models that are largely ineffective. Financing, which often comes in the form of loans, places an unfair burden on African nations already grappling with economic challenges. The commitments made under the Paris Agreement have largely gone unfulfilled, and financial contributions from major polluters—such as the U.S., which has contributed just $17 million—are insufficient to address the scale of the problem.

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The speakers argue that more substantial support is needed to adapt to climate change and mitigate its effects, especially for vulnerable communities. African nations should push for new, quantifiable climate financing goals during COP 29 to ensure that resources are allocated where they are most needed.

The press briefing also criticized the fossil fuel industry for obstructing progress and profiting at the expense of those suffering from climate change. Carbon offset programs were also condemned as ineffective, displacing communities from their lands for imaginary carbon credits rather than addressing the root cause of emissions. The speakers called for Africa’s arable land to be used productively for agriculture rather than being sacrificed for carbon credit schemes.

A shift toward renewable energy and sustainable agriculture was highlighted as essential for African countries. With the right investments, these sectors can help build resilience against climate shocks, such as prolonged droughts, by ensuring that farms are irrigated when rains fail.

The call to action ahead of COP 29 is clear: Africa needs a fair and just climate financing model that reflects the realities of the continent’s vulnerability. Wealthier nations, especially those responsible for the majority of emissions, must contribute more to ensure that African communities can recover from climate-related disasters and build resilience for the future.

The world has the resources to address this crisis, but political will and global cooperation are essential to protect the most vulnerable.