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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
SA calls CBAM “Policy Coercive” and LDCs call them “Beggar Thy Neighbour” Instruments
The South Africa government has called the EU’s CBAM “policy coercive” and a threat to a “delicate national consensus”, as it imposes climate mitigation policy onto developing countries and hinders the country’s independence to create policy in this space.
What Happened at the Bonn Climate Negotiations?
The lack of an agreed agenda dominated discussions at Bonn, as its setting is increasingly becoming a platform to tackle substantive issues. In our analysis we discuss what caused the hold-up, as well as other key matters on the negotiation table, including loss and damage, finance, Just Transitions, the Global Stocktake, trade, adaptation and carbon markets.
The Paris Summit for a New Global Financial Pact: Our Takeaways
Having aimed low the Paris Summit for a New Global Financial Pact is difficult to criticise, but if it is to be meaningful, inputs from African countries relating to debt, and the undertakings made by and reforms proposed to global financial institutions including in relation to SDRs and the World Bank, need to be fully implemented.
Nigeria and Angola Initiate Moves Away from Fuel Subsidies
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has announced the removal of a 50 year long petrol subsidy, a move which may incentivise renewable energy technologies in an economy heavily reliant on diesel generators. Angola recently made a similar announcement. But will it stick as given past experience and as domestic fuel costs rise?
Developing Countries list their demands as Bonn Climate Intersessionals Kick Off
Opening statements made by developing countries at the Bonn climate talks this year, evidence a resolve to advance long standing agendas around adaptation, finance and equity, and to position trade and loss and damage as central to the agenda.
