Africa Urged to Transition from Climate Positions to Action

Nairobi: African climate negotiators have been urged to prioritize tangible, financed outcomes that deliver real impact over longstanding negotiating positions. The call comes as the continent seeks to translate its unified climate positions into implementable actions that address development needs and improve livelihoods. Nana Dr. Antwi Boasiako Amoah, Chair of the African Group of Negotiators (AGN), made the call at the opening of a pre-meeting ahead of the Subsidiary Body meeting (SB64) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Nairobi, Kenya. According to Ghana News Agency, the meeting, held shortly after a high-level AGN strategic session in Accra, aims to refine Africa's collective approach ahead of SB64. It is expected to build on outcomes from the recent Conference of Parties, including the adoption of the Belém Gender Action Plan, which provides a framework for advancing gender-responsive climate action. Discussions also highlighted ongoing work under the Sharm el S heikh Joint Work on Agriculture, underscoring the urgency of addressing Africa's food systems and livelihoods. Dr. Amoah, who is also Ghana's Director of Climate Vulnerability and Adaptation, emphasized that internal coordination and technical capacity remained essential for effective global engagement. He urged participants to take advantage of opportunities under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement to link climate action with economic value for communities while ensuring coherence across sectors. 'There are no separate conversations. Agriculture, gender, finance, and just transition must come together in a coherent African approach because implementation does not happen in silos,' he said. Climate finance was identified as a major concern by Dr. Amoah, who stressed the need for a stronger, coordinated African strategy to close the gap between global pledges and actual financial flows to developing countries. He noted that Africa had a unique opportunity to shape the global climate agenda, especially as the c ontinent prepares to host COP32. 'Africa is not just participating in this process. Africa is helping to define what implementation should look like in real terms, grounded in development, equity, and justice,' he added. The pre-SB64 strategy meeting is expected to conclude with a unified African position backed by strong technical analysis, as negotiators prepare to engage the global community with renewed clarity and purpose.