Africa's Environmental Crossroads: Financing a Sustainable Future
Excellencies,
Let me begin by extending my warmest congratulations once again on the 40th anniversary of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN). This milestone, celebrated earlier this year during your 20th Ordinary Session, marks four decades of AMCEN's pivotal role in shaping Africa's environmental destiny. From forging regional environmental agreements to championing initiatives like the Great Green Wall, and from unifying African voices in global environmental conventions, AMCEN has been the continent's environmental compass.
I'm particularly heartened by the ambitious vision outlined in your political declaration, which commits AMCEN to safeguarding Africa's natural wealth, fostering green growth, and addressing a multitude of environmental challenges. Your environmental priorities for 2025-2027, agreed upon at the 20th session, provide a solid foundation for accelerating action that aligns seamlessly with UNEP's upcoming Medium-Term Strategy and Programme of Work. This synergy is crucial for tackling the complex environmental issues facing our continent.
It's also incredibly encouraging to witness the strong African presence and engagement here at the seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7), particularly from our gracious host nation, Kenya. Kenya's sponsorship of four resolutions – addressing Artificial Intelligence, environmental crime, the environmental dimension of antimicrobial resistance, and the intersection of sport and the environment – demonstrates a commendable commitment to addressing diverse environmental challenges. I urge all African Member States to rally behind these and other vital resolutions to ensure their successful adoption.
Excellencies,
This session promises valuable updates from ministers and commissioners on crucial events like the Second Africa Climate Summit, COP30, and South Africa's G20 presidency. I eagerly anticipate your insights on how developments at these gatherings will shape Africa's environmental trajectory. Before we delve into those discussions, allow me to highlight a few key points.
Firstly, I was thrilled to see the G20, under South Africa's leadership, declare clean air a global priority for the first time. This landmark decision, I believe, will significantly bolster efforts to combat air pollution, a silent killer claiming millions of lives annually. Initiatives like the Africa Clean Air Programme stand to benefit immensely from this renewed global focus.
Secondly, the emphasis on finance at the Africa Climate Summit, COP30, and the inaugural African Biodiversity Conference was both timely and necessary. But here's where it gets controversial: while these discussions are crucial, the stark reality is that climate finance remains woefully inadequate. Consider this: developing countries will require a staggering US$310 to US$365 billion annually by 2035 for adaptation measures – a twelvefold increase from current international public adaptation finance flows. This staggering gap highlights the urgency of mobilizing resources at an unprecedented scale.
COP30 did yield some progress. The agreement to mobilize at least US$1.3 trillion per year by 2035, alongside tripling adaptation finance and operationalizing the loss and damage fund, represents a step in the right direction. The launch of Brazil's Tropical Forests Forever Fund, which raised US$5.5 billion for forest conservation with a focus on the Congo Basin, is another positive development.
Africa is also proactively pursuing innovative financing mechanisms. The Africa Climate Innovation Compact (ACIC) and the African Climate Facility (ACF), aiming to mobilize US$50 billion annually, exemplify Africa's commitment to homegrown solutions and innovation-driven climate action. With Ethiopia confirmed as host of COP32 in 2027, strong African leadership around the COP could further catalyze climate finance and action in support of sustainable development.
UNEP stands ready to support Member States in unlocking this much-needed scalable climate finance. This could involve establishing regional climate innovation hubs to nurture technologies for renewable energy, Nature-based Solutions, and climate-smart agriculture, empowering local communities and fostering sustainable development from the ground up.
And this is the part most people miss: the need for dedicated biodiversity funding is equally pressing. Africa, home to approximately 25% of global biodiversity, faces a critical juncture. Without adequate financing, biodiversity loss will continue to erode food security, compromise health, and undermine economic resilience. The commitment to establish an African Biodiversity Fund at the Africa Biodiversity Conference was a significant step forward. I eagerly await the Fund's operationalization and stand ready to support the African Union Commission in developing transparent, equitable, and globally aligned modalities. UNEP can also provide guidance on integrating biodiversity finance into national budgets and accounting systems, ensuring that biodiversity conservation becomes a core component of national development strategies.
Excellencies,
I am deeply committed to working with you to translate these recent commitments into tangible progress towards Agenda 2030 and Africa’s Agenda 2063. Together, we can build a resilient, inclusive Africa that thrives in harmony with nature. But the question remains: can we bridge the financing gap and secure a sustainable future for generations to come? I invite your thoughts and perspectives in the comments below.
