350 Africa Regional Manager Landry Ninteretse Shares Insights on COP29 Outcomes and Climate Funding Challenges

TOP AFRICA NEWS recently sat down with Landry Ninteretse, the 350 Africa Regional Manager, to discuss the outcomes of COP29, which recently concluded in Baku. The interview covered a range of topics, including the key takeaways from the conference and the challenges facing developing countries in terms of funding for climate initiatives. Ninteretse provided valuable insights into these pressing issues and shed light on the importance of global cooperation in addressing climate change.

In your opinion, what were the key takeaways in COP 29 in Baku?

COP29 has been a total disappointment. While developing nations put forward a collective demand of at least USD$1 trillion per year for adaptation, mitigation and loss and damage, developed nations have committed a mere $300bn per year from both public and private sources, which is way beyond the required ambition and it’s not debt-free.

It’s clearly another missed opportunity to prioritise the ambition and equity needed to adequately tackle the climate crisis and an unjust obstruction of meaningful progress especially for countries that are disproportionately affected by climate impacts.

Voices and cries from developing nations were not heard, endangering further hundreds of millions of lives and livelihoods.

How do you think the challenges facing developing countries in terms of funding for climate action were addressed at the conference?

Challenges faced by developing countries are well known: they must strengthen their adaptation capacity, fund a just and rapid energy transition based on renewables and access increased resources needed to avert climate disasters.

These countries went to Baku – labelled  ‘Finance COP’ – expecting robust, grant based, climate finance that would boost their ability to deal with the impacts of the climate crisis and accelerate their transitions toward low-carbon economies. However, the final text falls short as wealthy nations historically responsible for the crisis fail to deliver.

The $1.3 trillion per year that the Global South asked for is a minimal down payment towards real climate action by the Global North. The fact that the historic big emitters are only offering to ‘mobilise’ $300 billion by 2035 in highly questionable mechanisms is outrageous and disgraceful.

Developing countries have once again been denied their meaningful right to protect their people, livelihoods, lands and ecosystems.

What specific actions do you believe need to be taken urgently to address the climate crisis, particularly in Africa?

Key specific actions concern priority sectors that are most vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change. These include:

– extreme weather events,

– unequal access to clean energy, both for electricity and cooking

– stress on water resources

– a decline in crop productivity

– tangible changes in the incidence and geographical distribution of parasitic and water-borne diseases such as malaria, as temperatures rise and rainfall patterns change.

These sectors represent, in my view, priority and urgent strategic areas for the continent. However, they do require sustained adaptation and mitigation capacity that unfortunately remains limited as we’ve just witnessed in Baku.

How do you plan to continue advocating for increased financing for climate action following your experience at COP 29?

Though COP29 has failed, the climate movement remains resolute and committed to fighting for justice, equity, and ambitious climate action. Frontline communities, indigenous people, and civil society will continue to lead the charge and fight for justice in the coming weeks and months.

We will organise, mobilise and advocate for a systemic overhaul of global climate finance – just, fair, urgent, and responding to the scale of appropriate adaptation and mitigation needs for our communities. Rich nations must stop the delays and deliver the financing that African communities deserve.

In what ways do you think the global community can work together to ensure that the $1 trillion per year needed for climate action in developing countries is mobilized?

The question is not whether the international community can work together, but rather whether it is sincere in tackling the climate crisis that threatens the entire planet’s survival.

Clearly, the leadership seen in Baku is disappointing. Hence, the people in the Global South and North need to mobilise more than ever to increase pressure on leaders, particularly in the Global North, to move funds on the scale we need to the countries that have done the least to cause the climate crisis while facing the brunt of its impacts.

What role do you see African leaders playing in pushing for more ambitious and urgent climate action on the global stage?

Africa has a great interest in speaking with one voice if it wants to weigh on the global stage, particularly on key issues such as the energy transition and adaptation. African countries must remain united and demand in unison that the global north polluters honour their responsibilities. One of the common challenges that African leaders must prioritise is rapid and fair access to clean energy. Today, it is heartbreaking that the continent with the greatest potential in clean energy continues to have the largest portion of its population without access to electricity.

Having a common agenda regarding investment in clean energy, reforms of financing mechanisms, technology transfer, and engaging frontline communities and civil society contributes to strengthening the continental position and voice.