During the recent Parties Submission Meeting at COP29, Ambassador Ali Mohamed, who chairs the Africa Group of Negotiators, delivered a powerful message about Africa’s role in tackling climate change. He emphasized how the continent is stepping up to lead in this crucial area, but there’s a pressing need for fair financial support to sustain these efforts.
Drawing from the African Climate Summit, he highlighted innovative projects like Kenya’s electric motorcycles and buses and the launch of Africa’s first direct air capture company. These initiatives showcase Africa’s potential to turn climate challenges into economic opportunities, although much of this progress has been made without direct help from the UN climate process.
Ambassador Mohamed pointed out the stark reality facing Africa: despite the continent’s determination to strengthen resilience and pursue low-carbon growth, a true global fight against climate change requires genuine support and financial commitment from all countries. He noted the troubling fact that more money is leaving Africa for debt payments than is being reinvested into climate solutions, and the high borrowing costs create further barriers for African nations striving for sustainable development.
He called for bold financial commitments at COP29, proposing a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) of at least $1.3 trillion each year, which includes $600 billion in public, grant-based funding. He dismissed the outdated $100 billion target, urging developed countries to step up their contributions to meet the scale of the climate crisis and Africa’s specific needs.
Ambassador Mohamed made an emotional appeal for global leaders to move away from “business-as-usual” financing habits and take decisive action. He warned that the current moment is crucial; acting now is far more cost-effective than waiting, and failure to make ambitious commitments risks eroding trust in leadership, especially among young people who are increasingly frustrated by slow progress.
He concluded with a heartfelt plea for unity, ambition, and fairness, urging developed nations to come to the NCQG negotiations with a spirit of solidarity. He emphasized the importance of achieving a financial goal at COP29 that is not only ambitious but also inclusive, benefiting both people and the planet. This, he insisted, is vital for realizing the goals of the Paris Agreement and building a sustainable future for all.