The Director, Centre for Climate Change and Development (CCCD), Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo (AEFUNAI), Ebonyi State, Prof. Chukwumerije Okereke, has called on global leaders to make the 29th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) holding in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November 2024, a decisive moment for global climate action for improved climate finance. He emphasised that the world is not on track to meet the critical 1.5 degrees target set by the Paris Agreement.
Prof. Okereke made the submission in a keynote address on behalf of Allied for Climate Transformation by 2025 (ACT2025) at the China Media Salon themed: “Looking Ahead to COP29: How to Accelerate Action Amid Intensifying Climate Impacts,” The China Media Salon was organised by Tipping Point Monthly E-magazine and hosted by The Paper on September 19, 2024, as a hybrid event.
Highlighting that there is an acute lack of resources to face the scale of impact brought on by climate change disasters, Professor Okereke called on developed countries to take the lead and help put the world back on track by mobilising and providing climate finance that is enough for solving climate change challenges beyond the usual rhetoric and failed promises.
Prof. Okereke, who is also President, Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP), further emphasised that in addition to the fact that vulnerable countries are being hit first and worst from the impacts of the global climate crisis as seen through devastating floods in Bangladesh, Kenya and Nigeria in recent months; inequality, conflict and development challenges always heightens these vulnerabilities.
Citing current data, Professor Okereke projected that developing countries need an estimated $5.8-5.9 trillion to implement their national climate plans, the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) up to 2030, and adaptation finance could reach $1.7 trillion annually by 2050.
While presenting the ACT2025’s call-to-action, an agreed set of expectations by the consortium ahead of COP29, bothering on the priority needs of climate vulnerable countries, Okereke reiterated that the four main priority expectations: 1) Ambitious Climate Finance is Non-Negotiable; 2) Scaling Up Adaptation Efforts; 3) Responding to loss and Damage with sufficient action and support; and 4) Accelerating Mitigation Ambition and Implementation.
Okereke later expanded on the four priorities established by the ACT2025 Call-to-action as which can be downloaded at https://www.wri.org/initiatives/allied-climate-transformation-act2025/resources/cop29-call-action-climate-vulnerable-countries for further details.
On ambitious Climate Finance, ACT2025 demanded that COP29 must deliver an ambitious 1.5°C-aligned New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) that reflects the real financial needs of climate-vulnerable nations and must be accessible, concessional and transparent.
On scaling up adaptation efforts, ACT2025 made bold that COP29 must unpack the gaps and challenges in adaptation planning and implementation if it must make sense.
On responding to Loss and Damage with sufficient action and support, ACT2025 demanded that new Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage must be adequately funded and fully operational by COP29. ACT2025 believed that the new Fund is meaningless if it does not result in accessible finance at scale to meet the immediate needs of vulnerable developing countries in responding to losses and damages, without imposing further burdens such as debt.
On accelerating mitigation Ambition and implementation, ACT2025 demanded that countries must implement equitable and rapid transitions away from fossil fuels with clear pathways to net-zero GHG emissions, while ensuring that their phaseouts are conducted through people-centered, just transitions. Okereke reiterated that ACT2025 is desirous to see ambitious NDCs reflected in the upcoming updated NDCs 3.0 with G7 and G20 countries leading by example.
Okereke, a Senior Adviser on Climate Change and Sustainable Development to the Enugu State Government, acknowledged China’s unique and important role in global climate action and justice through greening of its overseas investments. Okereke noted that COP29 and the next round of NDCs present critical opportunities for China to continue to showcase critical global leadership such as aligning its actions with the demands of vulnerable countries through solidarity and increased ambition that is 1.5-aligned in their new 2035 NDC.
Okereke expressed confidence that China holds a pivotal role in driving these results, positioning itself as a leader of the Global South and a key player in global climate governance. He equally emphasised that China has a unique role to play in fostering unity and driving global progress toward a sustainable and equitable future through its support for climate-vulnerable nations leveraging on the role it played with the G77 in calling for and establishing a loss and damage fund at COP27.
He further highlighted importance of China and the Global South, including China-Africa cooperation in shaping a sustainable and equitable climate future while alluding to the recent outcomes from the 9th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
In closing, Okereke called on the international community to rally and push for the finance, ambition, and climate resilient development pathways needed to prepare for the impacts of climate change and secure a just and equitable transition to a sustainable future.
“The outcomes of COP29 and the decisions we make as a global community this decade will massively impact the trajectory of our civilization and collective future,” he said.
ACT2025 is a consortium of thought leaders with core partners from: Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (Belize), Centre for Climate Change and Development at AEFUNAI (Nigeria), International Centre for Climate Change and Development (Bangladesh), Manila Observatory (Philippines), Power Shift Africa (Kenya), Transforma (Colombia), and World Resources Institute (Global).
Download the call to action: https://www.wri.org/initiatives/allied-climate-transformation-act2025/resources/cop29-call-action-climate-vulnerable-countries
By Ugochukwu Uzuegbu (Media and Communication Specialist, CCCD-AEFUNAI) and Gboyega Olorunfemi (Senior Research Associate, CCCD-AEFUNAI)
