Category: ENVIRONMENT

As Conference of the Parties (COP28) Wraps Up, We Must Remember, Aid to Africa Is (Still!) Not the Answer (By NJ Ayuk)

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, December 10, 2023/ — By NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber (www.EnergyChamber.org). There was an era when Africa and Western pop music were closely linked. Western entertainers spearheaded a number of internationally renowned events to raise awareness about the plight of starving Africans and generate funds for famine relief. In December 1984, the supergroup Band Aid sang about feeding the world, asking “Do They Know it’s Christmas?” Within a year, the group had raised over USD9 million. Three months later, USA for Africa released “We Are the…

South Africa: African Development Bank approves $1 billion guarantee from the United Kingdom to support SA’s Just Energy Transition

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, December 10, 2023/ — The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) has approved a $1 billion guarantee program in collaboration with the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), which will allow the Bank to increase its lending capacity in support of South Africa’s Just Energy Transition (JET). Developed in close collaboration with the government of the Republic of South Africa, the program will support projects aligned with South Africa’s JET investment plan, such as transmission and grid-balancing storage, renewable energy generation, energy…

  African Countries Should Reject Anti-Fossil Fuel Policies at COP 28

The Executive Chairman of the South Africa based Africa Energy Chamber,N.J.Ayuk  has taken a swipe at the climate agenda describing it as hypocritical, biased, unjust and that it also poses a direct threat towards Africa’s development, and countries should remain resilient in their efforts to defend their right to utilize oil and gas. “With COP 28 set to conclude in the coming days, a COP where African countries fiercely defended the role oil and gas plays across the continent,it has become clear that developed nations seem committed to phasing out…

Conference of the Parties (COP28): Multilateral development banks publish first common principles for nature-positive finance

LUXEMBOURG CITY, Luxembourg, December 9, 2023/ — New principles will guide multilateral development banks’ support for countries and the private sector in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework; For the first time, multilateral development banks define common principles and the criteria for identifying and tracking nature-positive finance; Announcement follows COP26 Joint MDB Statement on Nature, People and Planet. The European Investment Bank (EIB) and fellow multilateral development banks (MDBs) have today published (https://apo-opa.co/3RdNOeQ) common principles for identifying and tracking nature-positive finance. The announcement comes on nature day of the United Nations COP28 climate…

Youth-led African enterprises awarded $800,000 at Conference of the Parties (COP28) for climate solutions

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, December 5, 2023/ — Eight dynamic African young women-led businesses emerged as winners of the 2023 YouthAdapt challenge. Each business will receive grant funding of up to $100,000. They will also receive a comprehensive mentorship and coaching as part of a 12-month accelerator program. Since its launch in 2021, the YouthADAPT initiative (https://apo-opa.co/49ZU0zH) has provided more than $5 million to 33 young entrepreneurs from 19 African nations. Jointly organised by the African Development Bank Group and the Global Center on Adaptation (https://GCA.org), supported by the Africa Climate Change Fund (https://ACCF.AfDB.org),…

Strengthening African Islands States’ Climate Resilience: President Ramkalawan chairs the AISCC Ministerial Dialogue at COP28

04th December 2023 In the midst of the bustling COP28 in Dubai, a significant event unfolded at the Seychelles Pavilion—the Ministerial Dialogue of the African Union Commission (AUC) in partnership with the African Islands States Climate Commission (AISCC). Seychelles as the Chair of this commission organized this gathering to enhance collaboration among African Island nations and chart a strategic course to amplify the visibility and communication efforts of the AISCC. President of the Republic of Seychelles and Chair of the AISCC, His Excellency President Wavel Ramkalawan, reiterated Seychelles’ dedication to…

African Development Bank with other multinational development banks commits to boost collaboration on climate and development

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, December 3, 2023/ — Multilateral development banks attending the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference (COP 28) today affirmed their commitment to a concerted, global action, including increasing co-financing and private sector engagement to address climate change, felt acutely in Africa. Despite contributing the least to global warming and having the lowest emissions, Africa faces existential risks due to catastrophic impact of climate change. Perennial droughts in the Horn of Africa and recent devastating floods in Libya, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and other parts of the continent have claimed thousands…

Conference of Parties (COP28): Global and African partners pledge $175m to the Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa (AGIA)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, December 3, 2023/ — In a powerful signal of support during COP28, African and global institutions together with governments of Germany, France and Japan and philanthropies have pledged over $175 million to the Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa (AGIA). The landmark initial pledge will help to rapidly scale up financing for transformative climate-aligned infrastructure projects across the continent. The new pledges will also advance AGIA towards its first close of $500 million of early-stage project preparation and development blended capital. The Alliance is a partnership of the African…

Nigeria Launches Long Term Low Emission Development Strategy At COP28

Nigeria has achieved what looks like another major milestone in her effort to achieve a net zero carbon economy by 2060 by launching its Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy on Friday, December 1, 2023, at COP28 in Dubai, UAE. The event, which was graced by dignitaries and delegates from different countries around the world, was held at the African Pavilion in the Blue Zone and was moderated by Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, Director of the Centre for Climate Change and Development, AEFUNAI, and Dr Eugene Itua, Executive Director of the Natural…

President Ramkalawan addresses the 28th session of the Conference of Parties of UNFCC World Climate Action Summit

02nd December 2023 1st December 2023, Dubai UAE: The President of the Republic of Seychelles, Mr. Wavel Ramkalawan during his address at the Twenty-eighth session of the Conference of Parties of UNFCC (COP28).to which he led a Seychelles delegation, highlighted the urgency for collective action and the need for commitments made to be honoured as part of efforts to mitigate the heightened threats of climate change particular vis-à-vis Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like Seychelles. “In our shared pursuit of a sustainable future, the urgency of our deliberations here in Dubai cannot be overstated. As parties to the convention, we committed to deliver on commitments such as the USD100 billion promise,…