WWF Africa at COP27

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Zimbabwe

A Climate Resilient Africa by 2030
#COP27

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Time to accelerate climate resilience in Africa at COP27

As the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP27 takes place in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, from November 6–18, 2022, it is imperative that this high-level policy event builds an effective solution on a roadmap to make Africa resilient to climate change impacts.

COP27 'the African COP' should serve as a platform that ties together intense engagements, legitimate consultations, and the mobilisation of various stakeholders to pave the way for a climate resilient Africa.

According to the latest IPCC Working Group II report on Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability, it is evident that many climate risks are bigger than previously anticipated, particularly for countries in Africa on account of their vulnerability.

The next few years will be very critical for the continent. The time to act is now to secure a resilient and safe future for Africa.

Bolder commitments should be crafted around the Glasgow Climate Pact, existing financial goals as a way to achieve multiple goals, including addressing adaptation needs, reducing GHG emissions, accounting for loss and damage, securing climate finance, ensuring energy access and just transition, scaling up food systems approaches, and utilising the potential of nature-based solutions. These commitments should be supported by the urgent implementation of existing commitments.

WWF Africa is making recommendations contained in this COP27 Expectations Paper and calling for:

Ambition and shifting to implementation

Speeding up implementation would be dependent on but not limited to delivering on prior commitments, fostering cooperation at scale and strengthening institutional capacity.

Primacy of Adaptation, more urgent than ever

Africa should leverage the role of nature-based solutions (NbS) in addressing climate urgency and closing the gaps on reducing the impacts of climate change.

Clear mechanisms for Loss and Damage

A loss and damage finance facility should be established under the UNFCCC with a dedicated fund and an element of the New Collective Quantified Goal, in addition to mitigation and adaptation finance.

Tangible finance commitments

Financing mechanisms should support the full implementation of NAPs and NDCs in Africa, including financial commitments and pledges from developed countries to multilateral funding.

Recognition of the role of Nature Based Solutions (NbS) in mitigation and adaptation

Parties should ensure that nature’s potential for climate change mitigation and adaptation is maximized, and used sustainably and equitably.

Food systems approach for a resilient and 1.5°C world

Food systems should be considered in UNFCCC discussions in order to fast track and mainstream the implementation of actions to transform food systems.

Shifting to renewable energy and ensuring affordable energy access

Promoting energy efficiency and shifting energy sources to accessible and affordable renewable energy will be critical. Parties should reiterate their commitment to phasing out fossil fuels.

Africa’s special needs and circumstances

Despite accounting for roughly only 4% of global emissions, Africa is most vulnerable to and the least capable of protecting itself from adverse impacts of climate change.