Author: Ian Henderson

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

AGN Chair, Dr Richard Muyungi, on the Group’s Priorities Ahead of Upcoming Climate Talks in Bonn

We spoke with the Chair of the African Group of Negotiators (AGN), and Climate Envoy and Advisor to the President of Tanzania, Dr Richard Muyungi on the climate talks in Bonn between 16 and 26 June 2025.
  • COP30

Climate change hits African cities. Are they ready?

Urban populations and areas across Africa are booming, with the potential to drive development, improve standards of living and boost economic growth – but climate change looms overhead. Can cities balance rapid urbanisation with resilience building and adaptation?
  • African Climate Policy

DRC and Rwanda Shake Hands with US in Pledge of Peace for Critical Minerals

The DRC and Rwanda have agreed on a pathway to peace by 2 May, but it follows on the back of both countries discussing critical minerals deals with the US.
  • African Climate Policy

African Citizens Want their Own Governments to Lead on Climate Action

A new paper has found that African citizens place primary responsibility on their own governments to respond to climate change, and not historic emitters. The most vulnerable also have low expectations that their governments will respond adequately.
  • African Climate Policy

African countries argue for climate justice at International Court of Justice

African countries have invited the ICJ to recognise an international law legal duty on states to reduce their GHG emissions and to pay reparations, including in the form of debt relief of cancellation, in one of the biggest cases ever before the court.
  • Climate Litigation

Gridlock as Riyadh COP16 Fails to Deliver Drought Protocol Deal

The recent desertification COP in Riyadh under the UN Convention to Combat Desertification failed to deliver what African countries wanted most: a legally binding protocol on drought, marking another disappointing outcome from the Rio Conventions this year. 
  • Adaptation

Global Goal on Adaptation: The Scores and Misses in Baku 

COP 29 in Baku brought some clarity to the technical process and work on indicators within the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), but a major question mark hangs over the political impetus underpinning the discussions, especially after the largely disappointing outcome on finance that marked the COP. 
  • Adaptation, COP29

What happened with the Global Goal on Adaptation at COP28?

Taken together, the outcome on the global goal on adaptation misses an opportunity of facilitating climate resilient development in developing countries. In this overview, CSIR  holistic climate change impact area manager and South African Presidential Climate Commission member, Dr Brian Mantlana, unpacks the outcomes of COP28 for the goal, arguing its laughable timelines and the lack of financial commitments makes it a farce.
  • Adaptation, COP28