African Climate Week may be cancelled
As a result of “severe financial challenges” the UNFCCC has said that it will be unable to host its annual regional climate weeks, including the African Climate Week, until further notice. During a climate summit in Denmark last week, executive director Simon Stiell. made a plea for donor countries to come up with more funding […]
African dismay at decision to host loss and damage advice hub in Geneva
Instead of hosting the location of Santiago Network on Loss and Damage’s headquarters in Nairobi, it looks like it will be located in the more expensive Geneva instead. UNOPS and UNDRR have recommended the headquarters be established in Nairobi, which is already home to the UN’s African headquarters and the UN Environment Programme. However the […]
Nigeria gives businesses four years to adopt eco-friendly reporting standards
Nigeria is the first African country to adopt the International Financial Reporting Standards. These standards govern how companies and businesses disclose environment-related financial information and climate-related issues. The move is meant to address concerns about greenwashing, attract more ESG-oriented investments into the country, and encourage the adoption of sustainability practices into company operations. Businesses have […]
US dragging its feet on OECD fossil fuel subsidy reform
According to the Financial Times, the US and EU are at odds over the phase out of subsidies for oil and gas development within the OECD, with disagreement primarily relating to the extent of the ban. According to the report, OECD countries held a second round of closed door talks in Paris to discuss a […]
Nigeria contemplates BRICS membership
BRICS welcomed five new members in early 2024, with reported plans to continue expanding membership under the current Russian presidency. One of Africa’s big three economies (with Egypt and South Africa already members of BRICS), Nigeria’s potential BRICS membership would have political, diplomatic and economic impacts. Professor Williams Ijoma outlined the case for membership at […]
Rwanda to regulate tree cutting more closely
Rwandans will be prohibited from cutting immature trees once a Bill governing forests and trees passed by the lower Chamber of Parliament on 25 March, is published in the official gazette. An allAfrica report notes that among other provisions, the Bill outlaws the harvesting, use, and sale of ‘immature trees’ referred to as poles, unless approved by […]
Experts meet in Kenya to boost climate finance in Africa
Nairobi hosted the first Climate Change Global Business Summit on Africa with the aim of increasing climate funding in the region. As it stands, Africa only receives 10% of the funding necessary to combat climate change, highlighting a significant finance gap for mitigation and adaptation. Barriers to accessing climate finance include high interest rates and […]
African Countries Call for Equitable Access to Minerals
At the recent UN Environmental Assembly on 28 February 2024, African countries passed a resolution calling for better controls and a fairer share of profits from the mining of transitional minerals crucial for building renewable energy technologies. Africa has large reserves of these minerals, and its leaders want to develop domestic processing industries to create […]
EU Carbon Tariff Likely to Have Limited Impact on Emissions Without Global Efforts
A recent study by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) investigates the impact of the European Union’s (EU) carbon border tax (CBAM). Aimed at reducing carbon emissions from imported goods, the tax is unlikely to significantly curb climate change and will only have a modest negative impact on Asian economies. The report highlights CBAM’s limitations, notably […]
EAC Partner States Reaffirm Commitment to Renewable Energy and Addressing Fossil Fuel challenges
During the Ministerial Session of the 16th Sectoral Council of Energy that was held at the East African Community (EAC) Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania, the EAC committed to increasing the use of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and geothermal power, and are also updating laws and regulations to encourage their adoption. Member states […]
