Non-state actors have expressed disappointments over “Western interests” in agenda of climate summit

Nairobi, 09/03/2023

As African leaders prepare to gather for the upcoming Africa Climate Summit (ACS), a collective of non-state actors bringing together diverse groups across sectors, express deep concern and disappointment over the preparation and agenda of the Summit. Organizational lapses, apparent civil society exclusion, and Western interest dominance are also set to mar the Summit.

Speaking at a press conference in a Nairobi hotel, The redlines together with PACJA expressed concern over the organizational confusion and inertia manifests in the accreditation process where exhausted delegates are tossed from the accreditation venue to the Ministry of Environment for clearance process for what is said to be approval.

“Beyond the ACS, this confusion will direct impact Africa participation in another critical UNFCCC process, the Africa Climate Week as both events are under one accreditation umbrella.  Summit organizers have deliberately failed to ensure adequate participation and consultation of non-state actors, especially those from the most vulnerable and marginalized communities, in the planning and implementation of the Summit. The African parliamentarians are more conspicuously missing in the consultation process, yet their representation, legislation and oversight role is apparent in processes such as the ACS,” reads the statement.

They  continued  to note that the Summit agenda remains too inclined to promote market-based solutions and Transnational Corporations’ involvement while neglecting the people’s and the  planet’s needs and rights. Few hours to the kick off of the summit they however believe that there’s still room for The Kenyan President and the Africa Union have an opportunity to rethink the agenda to allow more space for dialogue and action on climate justice adaptation, finance, finance, loss, damage and human rights.

“We do not wish this Summit to be a missed opportunity to address Africa’s climate crisis and amplify African people’s voices and solutions. African citizens have waited too long to have such a gathering, and thus, once again, we urge the organizers to ensure that the Summit is genuinely inclusive, transparent and accountable. While noting the front line role non-state actors play in climate response, we reiterate that no single stakeholder – governmental or non-governmental – can defeat the threats posed by the climate crisis. We call upon the African governments and leaders to listen to and engage with non-state actors as equal partners,” reads the statement 

They also reflected that  the Africa Climate Summit Non-State Actors Steering Committee’s (ACS-NSA) shared vision and emphasize the critical need to address the impact of the climate crisis on the continent and its inhabitants.

“We have issued a document outlining minimum expectations from the summit. Over 2,294 groups and individuals across the continent have signed the redlines document. The Africa Climate Summit presents a unique opportunity for the continent to raise the urgency of addressing the climate emergency and protecting the rights and livelihoods of its citizens. Moreover, it is an opportunity to build momentum and solidarity for the African agenda at COP28 and beyond by highlighting African countries’ common interests and aspirations in achieving a low-carbon, climate-resilient, and inclusive development”. They added.

ACS-NSA is a pan-African platform advocating for a pro-African agenda in all critical spaces at the summit and beyond. The ACS-NSA has a Secretariat supported by the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) and is organized into clusters that draw members from regional CSOs, 

Indigenous People, Faith Actors, Trade Unions, the African Private Sector, Farmer Organizations, Women and Gender Constituencies, Youth Movements, Academia and Research Institutions, Foundations and Finance Institutions. 

Ahead of the summit, the group has called on African leaders to stand by the principles of climate justice, human rights, gender equality, and intergenerational equity in all climate policies and actions demanding  that developed  countries fulfil their historical responsibility and provide adequate and predictable finance, technology transfer, and capacity building to support adaptation, mitigation, and loss and damage in Africa. 

The group also rejects false solutions and narratives undermining African communities’ rights, interests, and sovereignty, such as carbon markets, geoengineering, nuclear energy, and shared responsibility principles. They further reject promoting carbon markets as they do not serve the climate justice agenda for Africa.