At least 10,000 African climate activists have petitioned the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) at COP 29 in Baku, demanding an ambitious climate finance package for vulnerable communities and an end to fossil projects.
The petition, which was delivered by Greenpeace Africa, an environment movement, at the weekend, also calls for investments in renewable energy solutions and concrete mechanisms that make polluters pay for climate damages, and it rejects false solutions such as carbon offsetting.
Murtala Touray, the Program Director at Greenpeace Africa, said the demands in the petition represent the voices of Africans who are being battered by the devastating impacts of climate change.
“We are calling on our negotiators to stand firm in demanding that fossil fuel companies pay their fair share for the damage they’ve caused to our communities and environment,” he said.
He added that frontline countries that have been paying the costs of climate change for years came to COP29 hoping for a new climate finance goal that will help keep them and the planet safe. But so far, rich countries have put zero real finance on the table.
Omar Elumawi, the Africa Climate Movement Building Space convener, who also signed one of the petitions, urged the United Nations Forums on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to kick out fossil fuel lobbyists, adding that their presence is bad for climate negotiations. His concerns come at the time emerged that more than 1,700 fossil fuel lobbyists had been granted access to attend the COP29.
Ali Mohamed, the Chair of the African Group of Negotiators, expressed support, saying the demands in the petition are critical and therefore need to be dealt with on a united front.
“We are all on the same page. We are going to support the position of the African CSOs and communities in our negotiations. I’m looking forward to working with you and responding to the challenges our different communities face. We look forward to a successful COP outcome,” said Mohammed.
The petition handover comes at a critical time as developing nations push to secure meaningful commitments on climate action and financial support from heavy emitters under the New Collective and Quantified Goal at COP29. Burning fossil fuels is the major driver of climate change, and scientific projections show that 118 million Africans could be at risk from climate-related disasters by 2030.
Fred Njehu, Pan-African Political Strategist for Greenpeace Africa, urged the African negotiators to fast-track the just transition processes, adding that prioritising people over profits should be the goal.
“Africa’s future must be renewable, not fossil-fuelled. Our climate negotiators have a historic opportunity at COP29 to champion real sustainable solutions that will protect our communities and ecosystems,” Njehu noted.
Teresa Anderson, the Global Lead at Action Aid, accused the countries in the Global North of turning climate talks into a “profit venture,” adding that what is expected of them is putting “real finance on the table.”.
She added that developed countries are pushing for private sector investments instead of grant-based climate finance goals, describing it as “outrageous and incredibly dangerous” for the planet.
