Author: Ian Henderson

Looking Back: 2025 in Review

2025 was a whirlwind year for Africa’s climate agenda, with both internal and external events shaping the continent’s positions and priorities. We break down the themes and topics that defined the year, and what may lay ahead for 2026.
  • Uncategorized

The Centrality of the COP30 Action Agenda

The Climate Action Agenda is emerging as another currency in the UNFCCC COPs: a currency that catalyses momentum for implementation and ambition through practical collaborations and global solidarity.
  • COP30

COP30’s Gender Action Plan Needed to Address Climate-Induced Violence

Talks underpinning COP30’s Gender Action Plan reveal the fragility of progress in recognising the systems of oppression that affect women, girls, and gender diverse people.
  • African Climate Policy

A New Just Transition Mechanism: Why It Matters for Africa

The Just Transition Mechanism could connect “transitions out” with “transitions in”, linking decarbonisation with Africa’s diversification needs and supporting critical mineral cooperation – expanding the pie rather than fighting over slices.
  • COP30, NetZero and the Just Transition

Thirty COPs and Robbers: Key Outcomes from the Negotiations

This year’s COP30 talks proffered the same tensions, particularly around finance, increased ambition, burden shifting, and how to agree to the detail needed to support the implementation of existing aspirations and commitments. The final text is strong on new initiatives but weak on accountability mechanisms. Overcoming this impasse will be key to Africa successfully hosting the talks at COP32.
  • COP30

The fate of Africa’s forests at COP30

Tropical forests were front and centre at COP30, with the launch of two initiatives dedicated to forest conservation. For Africa’s tropical forests, COP30’s outcomes are a step in the right direction. However, questions about operationalisation and transparency remain.
  • COP30

A trillion dollar promise on a warming planet: can COP30’s finance deliver for Africa?

  • Climate Finance, COP30

 Africa’s Climate Agenda in the Wake of the South African G20 Presidency

Following the US withdrawal from the G20 Summit, and a lack of agreement on climate and just transition matters, the Johannesburg Leaders’ Declaration issued this past weekend was a surprise to many, reflecting South Africa’s astute diplomacy, and signalling that US obstinacy would not block multilateral cooperation.
  • African Climate Policy

African Countries Asked to Track their own Spending on Adaptation

  • Adaptation, COP30

Mid COP30: African representatives call for Adaptation, Finance and Fair Trade

At the halfway point of COP30, the Chair of the Africa Group of Negotiators (AGN), Dr. Richard Muyungi and the COP30 Special Envoy for Africa, Prof Carlos Lopes, hosted a joint press-briefing, where they underscored the continent’s priorities for COP30, following a long week of negotiations.
  • COP30