Author: Ian Henderson

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

African Negotiators Push Back on Key Elements of the Global Stocktake Report

The recent synthesis report for the Global Stocktake hints at some consensus around fossil fuel phaseouts. But African negotiators are displeased with its approach to equity and differentiation, and how it treats finance and technology transfer.
  • COP28

African Countries call for Finance Reform at the UNGA, but Lack of GCF Pledges is Worrying

African countries made impassioned and detailed statements on how the global finance architecture should change at this year’s UN General Assembly. The SDG Summit also highlighted key climate finance reforms needed. However, action was lacking at the Climate Ambition Summit, where GCF pledges were underwhelming.
  • Climate Finance, COP28

Looking towards the IMF and World Bank meetings in Marrakech

Looking towards the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings on 9 October in Marrakech, expectations are that climate related reforms should go beyond much needed capital increases and the re-channeling of SDRs. We discuss a recent report by the African Climate Foundation of what these reforms should entail.
  • Climate Finance

Making the Global Financial System Work for Africa

Building a financing ecosystem that works for Africa requires a systemic transformation of existing approaches to debt, lending practices, the global development finance system, tax and trade. These measures should address the continent’s debt overhang, create a fairer financial ecosystem, and unlock financial flows while preserving fiscal sovereignty.
  • Climate Finance, COP28

Urgent Call for Adaptation Investment Plans to Catalyse Adaptation Finance

Adaptation investment planning spur investments in prioritised projects and support the the implementation of adaptation and resilience measures in Africa. In this analysis, Sarah Wewege and Chipo Rusere discuss the advantages of this approach and how it can present a compelling case for investment.
  • Climate Finance

African Climate Wire is an initiative of Climate Legal, a climate change law and policy specialist consultancy, based in South Africa and operating across the continent.

Our independent reporting is made possible with the generous support of the African Climate Foundation. Our opinions, findings, interpretations and conclusions remain our own, and do not in any way represent those of the African Climate Foundation.

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