Published: 11:59, November 9, 2021 | Updated: 14:04, November 9, 2021
Africa's climate crisis receiving minimal attention at COP26
By Xinhua

In this photo, houses lay between the Senegal River and the Atlantic Ocean beach that has been affected by erosion in Saint Louis, Senegal, Nov 3, 2021. (LEO CORREA / AP)

NAIROBI - The COP26 UN Climate Change Conference underway in Glasgow, Scotland is yet to come up with concrete steps to advance Africa's green agenda, campaigners said on Monday.

Mithika Mwenda, executive director of Nairobi-based green lobby, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance decried lackluster attention to the climate crisis in the continent at COP26.

Executive director of Pan African Climate Justice Alliance Mithika Mwenda said the success of the Glasgow climate summit will be dependent on the industrialized north honoring carbon-cutting commitments alongside financial pledges to boost green transition in Africa

"Our priority issues like climate finance have not been placed at the heart of discussions at Glasgow summit and lack of political will from major economies will impair climate action in Africa," Mwenda said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

He said the plea by the African Group of Negotiators for robust adaptation financing and technology transfer is yet to be heeded at the Glasgow summit, hence threatening the continent's realization of a climate-resilient future.

According to Mwenda, failure to recognize and act on the unfolding climate crisis in Africa at COP26 would be detrimental to the survival of grassroots communities and their habitats.

He said declarations should be followed by tangible actions to strengthen the resilience of Africa's indigenous communities, subsistence farmers, fishermen and pastoralists in the face of climate-related disasters.

ALSO READ: EU officials banned from most COP26 parties due to virus surge

Godwin Ojo, a Nigerian green advocate said the concerns of Africa's grassroots communities that have borne the brunt of the climate crisis have not been adequately addressed at COP26.

He said that an inclusive dialogue is urgent to address the financing gap that has derailed climate action in a continent already reeling from extreme weather events that have in turn escalated poverty, hunger, water stress and infectious diseases.

Ojo said the success of the Glasgow climate summit will be dependent on the industrialized north honoring carbon-cutting commitments alongside financial pledges to boost green transition in Africa.

Robert Muthami, a Nairobi-based climate policy analyst said that an inclusive and transparent process at COP26 was a prerequisite to delivering climate justice in Africa.

READ MORE: COP26: World makes new bid to avert climate disaster

Muthami said the Glasgow summit should prioritize the deployment of resources, technologies and best practices that could improve climate resilience in the continent.

He cited early warning, green energy innovations, harnessing of nature-based interventions as crucial to tame climatic shocks that pose an existential threat to Africa's stability.