Africa Pushes for Action Over Promises at #COP31

The COP31 climate summit has opened in Antalya, Turkey, in a climate of tension between developed and developing countries over climate finance, with poor countries demanding more money to combat the effects of climate change.

African countries are using the summit to pressure developed nations to provide predictable, accessible and affordable climate finance, saying existing commitments have not produced enough funding for the continent’s climate challenges. Through the African Group of Negotiators, countries are calling for grants and concessional financing rather than loans that could worsen debt burdens, with Africa estimated to need between 1.3 trillion and 1.6 trillion dollars by 2030 for climate adaptation and mitigation. 

The continent is also demanding that the global energy transition create economic opportunities through local processing of critical minerals, technology transfer, renewable energy investment and job creation, rather than leaving African countries dependent on exporting raw materials. African negotiators said that COP31 must move beyond political promises and deliver concrete financing that reaches vulnerable communities while allowing countries to industrialise and strengthen their economies.