African negotiators: We’re disappointed by lack of progress on climate adaptation

The African Group of Negotiators (AGN) says it is disappointed by the lack of progress on the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) and other expectations of Africa at the ongoing climate conference.

In a press conference on Saturday, Collins Nzovu, the AGN Chair, said the group expects COP28 to deliver tangible outcomes which reflect Africa’s aspirations, especially on the need for enhanced climate adaptation.

He said “adaptation is a matter of survival for us in Africa” and so the next few days of the conference should be made to deliver on it.

He added that Africa needs to adapt to the devastating impacts of climate change, including storms and rising seas which threaten lives and livelihoods on the continent.

“We are concerned about the lack of progress on various issues of importance to our group, particularly on finance and adaptation,” Nzovu said.

“However, with a few days remaining, we believe we can still deliver on the following work streams; on Adaptation; We reiterate that adaptation is a key priority for the African continent and a critical component in the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

“Adaptation is a matter of survival for us in Africa. Amid all the summits and meetings taking place to discuss this issue, what Africans need to see is action to help us adapt to this changing climate.”

‘WITHOUT ROBUST ADAPTATION FRAMEWORK, COP28 WOULD BE A FAILURE’

Nzovu continued by saying that COP28 would be a failure for Africa if there is no established robust framework for the global adaptation goal.

He said the framework must involve critical means of implementation, including finance, capacity building, and technology transfer.

“COP28 is mandated to complete the work undertaken for the past two years under the Global Goal on Adaptation, by launching a robust framework on the GGA,” he said.

“The outcome of the GGA is the most important outcome for Africa at COP28, without which we would consider COP28 a failure.”

Also speaking on the loss and damage fund which was operationalised on the first day of the conference, Nzovu said that while the group welcomes this development, it is cautious of similar commitments made in the past, which have not been fulfilled.

He called for more resources to actualise the purpose of the fund because it requires trillions of dollars.

Nzovu said the GST must “explicitly recognise Africa’s developmental constraints and challenges and facilitate the provision of the support and development space for the continent to exploit its natural resources and endowments for achieving sustainable development goals”.