People’s Climate vote calls for greater action on Climate Change
With 19 African countries due to hold general or presidential elections this year, the People’s Vote on Climate Change highlights key priorities that citizens are looking for their governments to address. There is broad support for a transition away from fossil fuels in African countries, and most wanted greater action to avoid extreme weather events.
Making the African Group of Negotiators an agenda setter
The African Group of Negotiators (AGN) can better position itself among agenda setters by investing its technical resources and diplomatic capital in influencing the climate regime’s institutional features. It should be challenging the system that penalises geographic and economic vulnerability, and should play a leading role in the intersection of human rights and climate change responses. By strengthening ties with the emerging economic powers of the Global South it can advance its agency in the negotiations.
Just Energy Transition for Zimbabwe’s Extractive Sector
Just Energy Transitions are not only for high emitting countries, they are also for countries with material extractives sectors, such as Zimbabwe. We interviewed Green Governance Africa’s Executive Director Nyasha Frank Mpahlo about the organisation’s work in Zimbabwe’s energy transition and their recent book on the topic.
Scaling Climate Change Literacy in Africa
The African public has a low understanding of what climate change is and its cause, with some of the most climate change literate groups currently located in the fossil fuel industry. As part of the African Union’s Education theme for 2024, we need to mainstream climate change literacy into targeted climate- vulnerable sectors and across government policy and decision makers.
All Eyes are on the AU’s Climate Policy ahead of G20 Accession
At its 37th summit, the African Union’s climate committee, CAHOSCC, endorsed the establishment of a body to implement the Nairobi Declaration, adding to the already large swathe of climate committees and institutions. However, its guidance on the region’s key climate political topics was thin. As the AU joins the G20, it will need to formulate far more detailed and comprehensive positions on climate if it is to be taken seriously.
Ghana Imposes Vehicle Carbon Taxes: Are They the Answer?
Ghana’s introduction of a carbon levy on vehicles, follows a push by more than seven African countries who have done the same. Are product related taxes such as these, a better path for African countries looking to mature their carbon pricing systems, in the context of global pressure to do so?
Nigeria Expands its Climate Repertoire by Banning Certain Plastics
In January, the Nigerian state of Lagos introduced a ban on Styrofoam, sparking protests from industry and food vendors, but the Government has pushed back, stating it was long overdue. Nigeria is one of several African states pursuing measures to control the climate and environmental impacts of plastic, a role African countries could better claim in their climate policies.
Nigeria’s Leading Presidential Candidates Unimpressive on Climate with only Obi Reimagining Change
Climate change was not meaningfully addressed in any of the parties’ manifestos, and none of the candidates have demonstrated how they will practically upscale adaptation, mitigation or the finance challenges plaguing Nigeria.
