Article Author: Andrew Gilder

COP28 and Trade: Will Anyone Say Anything?

Despite climate related trade measures like the CBAM being one of the most controversial climate developments this year, it is still not clear whether they will formally be addressed at COP28. After a sour ending at the Bonn climate talks in June this year, countries still can’t agree whether to even discuss these types of unilateral response measures. Developed countries argue they should be addressed under the WTO, whilst African countries also want it dealt with under the global climate regime.
  • Climate Negotiations

Interview with Egypt’s Lead Climate Change Negotiator, Ambassador Mohamed Nasr, on Climate Finance and the Africa Climate Summit

We spoke with Egypt’s chief climate negotiator, Ambassador Mohamed Nasr, who headed the COP27 Presidency’s team and led many of the negotiation tracks at COP27 in Egypt last year, about his thoughts on climate finance, Africa’s priorities and the upcoming African Climate Summit.
  • Climate Finance, Climate Negotiations, Uncategorized

Malawi orders review of Carbon Credit projects as Kenya introduces new Carbon Markets Bill

Malawi and Kenya are both seeking to firm up their domestic policy on carbon markets, with a focus on ensuring more benefits for communities. Echoing Zimbabwe, Malawi has stated an intention to revisit existing contracts, while Kenya is looking to devise a more detailed set of rules on benefit sharing, governance and legal processes.
  • Uncategorized

Wrangling over Climate Finance Language in SDG Summit Declaration

The US, the UK and a handful of developed countries have pushed back on climate finance language within a draft declaration on the SDGs ahead of the SDG summit in New York in September. Issues of contention included the manner in which calls to reform the international financial system were phrased, and the establishment of a multibillion-dollar development stimulus plan.
  • Climate Finance, Climate Negotiations

Ruto calls for the creation of a Global Green Bank

Kenyan President William Ruto is looking to radically shake up the global climate finance architecture, proposing that multilateral lenders provide at least $500 billion/year to settle existing debts and free up domestic resources for climate and development priorities. He also wants the establishment of a global Green Bank, financed by carbon taxes and other climate levies.
  • Climate Finance, Climate Negotiations

Africa Climate Summit under fire from CSOs

Civil Society Organisations are arguing that the African Climate Summit has been “hijacked by Western governments, consultancy companies, Global North think tanks and philanthropy organisations/ foundations.”
  • Climate Negotiations

Scottish Scientist, Jim Skea, elected to chair IPCC, outwinning Brazilian and South African nominees

Scottish scientist Jim Skea was recently nominated to chair the IPCC. His election extends an unbroken run of male leaders since the IPCC was established in 1988. Skea was also preferred against South African candidate Debra Roberts, who actively campaigned for more representation of women and scientists from the global south. She also wanted to address data gaps for the south, particularly Africa.
  • Climate Negotiations

IMO Mulls a Global Shipping Levy: Africa May Lose out While Others Gain

Following the agreement of revised targets for the shipping sector, the IMO is discussing the introduction of a global shipping levy. A group of African nations initially came out in support of but then went quiet during negotiations. A recent study anticipates that African GDPs will be significantly impacted by a levy whilst the GDPs of EU and the US stand to benefit.
  • Climate Finance

African Governors Propose Targeted Reforms to Climate Finance Architecture

African governors of the IMF and World Bank met in Cabo Verde to discuss reforms to the global climate finance architecture. Their clearly articulated set of proposed reforms focuses on the need to jointly address global public goods and SDGs, reduce African debt insecurities, and enable a country owned and driven approach.
  • Climate Finance

UAE to Put Trade on COP28 Agenda as Australia Joins Climate Club

The UAE intends to introduce a special focus on trade at COP28, as countries are increasingly using trade to pursue their climate and growth objectives. The decision comes as Australia decides to join the G7’s Climate Club, a group that may increasingly see trade used to disadvantage countries with unambitious targets.
  • Climate Negotiations