A Light Bulb of Youth In African Development

View Original

Africa Climate and Health Alliance COP29 Call To Action

Willice Onyango

ACHA-AFRICA COP29 CALL TO ACTION

As Conference of Parties (COP29) convenes in Baku, Azerbaijan from 11st to 22nd November 2024, the globe is greatly impacted by the accelerating impacts of climate change with floods, droughts, hurricanes, and heatwaves after human lives and ecosystem in addition to destruction of infrastructure and properties. These effects are felt most in the poorest and most vulnerable nations and communities especially in Africa which lack the resources to adapt and protect themselves. The impact of climate change has not spared the Health sector with destruction of health infrastructure, health commodities and loss of lives in Africa with flooding affecting Southern and East African countries, drought ravaging Horn of Africa and the Sahel Region countries in Africa, Water-borne and Malaria diseases affecting countries in Central, West and Southern Africa.

We, the members of AFRICA CLIMATE AND HEALTH ALLIANCE(ACHA-AFRICA), call on the Parties to the Paris Agreement attending Conference of Parties (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, to:

1. LOBBY AND DEMAND FOR HEALTH TO BE MADE A STAND-ALONE THEME FOR CLIMATE NEGOTIATIONS FRAMEWORK OF UNFCCC

The impact of climate change on health has been put at the fore basing on the destructions and impacts climate change has had on the health infrastructure, is very visible and already experienced by global north and global south communities with the greatest impact experienced by least developed countries notably on the African continent with flooding of rivers affecting health infrastructure in southern and central African nations, drought and famine ravaging horn of Africa and Sahel regions with loss of more than eight(8) million lives annually in Africa. The studies and data generated with evidence by World Health Organization, development partners and civil society and academia with the COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health, WHA77 Resolutions, WHO COP29 Special Report on Climate Change and Health and other entities, clearly shows the need for HEALTH TO BE AT THE CENTER OF CLIMATE NEGOTIATIONS.

We appreciate having the first Health Day at COP28 last year in Dubai which has continued at COP29 which is commendable of the COP leadership and indeed this is an opportunity for the climate negotiations to foster and recognize the impact of climate change on Health.

Therefore, ITS NOW OR NEVER to have Health as a stand-alone theme for the Climate Negotiation framework like it’s with Adaptation, Mitigation, Loss and Damage, Technology Transfer, Finance, Agriculture among others.

ACHA-AFRICA recognizes that having a stand-alone theme is a process, however WE CALL the process to having Health as stand-alone theme, to START NOW AT COP29 and thus call upon the parties, Africa Group of Negotiators and other governments in different continents ensure the process STARTS NOW AT COP29.We believe once realized, will make negotiations at future COPs able to integrate Health in the climate change negotiation protocols.

2. PRIORITIZE CLIMATE ADAPTATION FOR HEALTH

  • The Paris Agreement established the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) to enhance adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience and reduce the vulnerability of those most affected by the climate crisis. Based on the fact that more than 150 countries committed to the COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health confirming Health at the Centre of climate change negotiations, COP29 ought to develop strategies for implementation of the declaration actions by all parties.

  • The parties ought to recognize and operationalize the relevant resolutions, declarations and call to action advancing climate adaptation for Health by different agencies for COP29 negotiations. These include: The COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health, World Health Assembly (WHA77) Resolutions for Climate Change and Health, COP29 for People and Planet recommendations by Global Climate and Health Alliance (GCHA) members, African Civil Society Position for UNFCCC-COP29 by PACJA, COP29 Special Report on Climate Change and Health by World Health Organization, Harare Declaration on Climate and Health in Africa 2024, African Countries positions on Climate Change and Health. Ensuring these actions and recommendations are meaningfully integrated in the COP29 Climate negotiations, will eminently contribute to African Health sector climate resilience by ensuring African governments acquire adequate Climate Adaptation capacity and resources for the Health sector in implementing their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and developing National Climate Adaptation Plans for Health(H-NAPs).

  • The COP29 should Double Adaptation Finance by allocating adequate funding to assist African countries and civil society to support climate-impacted health systems and displaced communities with development and implementation of Health National Climate Adaptation Plans(H-NAPs) through establishment of early warning systems, disaster preparedness programs that are gender-responsive and disability-inclusive climate adaptation approaches targeting vulnerable communities especially women,children,youth and refugees health.

  • To close the climate adaptation gap, the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) for the New Collective Quantifiable Goal on climate Finance (NCQG) and the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) should ensure Health is integrated in the funding mechanisms of the two tracks by taking leadership in driving the Health agenda in the negotiations. In addition, the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) ought to set up ambitious health indicators including sexual reproductive health rights through an inclusive process involving the expertise of non-state actors advancing Health in the climate change negotiations to amplify voices of vulnerable communities in Africa.

3. MITIGATION: CALL FOR AMBITIOUS MITIGATION MEASURES TO SAFEGUARD HEALTH

Climate change is an existential threat to humanity. Warming of the atmosphere, oceans and land – driven by human activity – is causing climate variations and extremes all over the world, with over three billion people living in places that are highly vulnerable to climate change (IPCC, 2023).

  • At COP29, Africa Climate and Health Alliance (ACHA-AFRICA) calls upon UNFCCC and the governing bodies of COP29 to recommit to urgent and ambitious political action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and keep warming with in a livable range to avoid the worst consequences of climate change on health sector. Already the health sector is greatly affected by heat-stress, reduced access to safe water due to drought, pollution-induced respiratory diseases and energy inefficiencies.

  • We call upon parties at COP29 to acknowledge and draw attention to the high vulnerability to climate risks of the health sector especially in flooding and drought- prone countries and communities in official COP documents including the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG) as this is essential to ensuring adequate climate mitigation actions in least developed countries in global south especially in Africa.

  • There is an urgent need to reduce emissions and put an end to fossil fuels by reviewing and updating the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as the year 2025 approaches for review so that realistic emission reduction targets are set. In addition, the parties should be able to agree on fair and just-focused negotiations and abiding to the polluter-pay principle.

4. FINANCE: ENSURE SUSTAINABLE FINANCING FOR CLIMATE RESILIENT HEALTH SYSTEMS AND PROGRAMS

  • The parties ought to adopt and develop implementation framework for New Collective Quantifiable Goal on Climate Finance integrating Health finance in the climate funding frameworks that advance access to concessional and grant-based financing which will benefit least developed countries especially in Africa. In addition, in advancing the (NCQG), the parties should clearly define climate finance outlining what qualifies and what does not and identify its sources. This framework should integrate gender- responsiveness, just transition principles and addressing issues of reporting, traceability, debt sustainability, Adaptation, Loss and Damage. The framework must be rooted in transparency, accountability, equitable access, and strict adherence to the polluter pays principle.

  • Finance is the only pivotal element of realizing all climate goals. Therefore, the NCQG should be adequate to the urgency and scale of the challenge climate has on the health sector, cover the paradigm of health sector climate adaptation, mitigation, loss and damage, and take into consideration of the Health needs and priorities least developed country parties in the face of climate change cognizant of vulnerable communities. The framework should also be accompanied by the full and timely delivery of the previously agreed US$100 billion per year climate finance goal through to 2025 as emphasized in the first global stock take outcome and ensure health financing is integrated.

  • The mechanisms for accessing climate finance should be rapid and flexible enough to allow easy access to the funds by least developed countries and civil society for the implementation of climate-resilient Health systems and programs with improved monitoring and tracking of the progress of implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that integrate health systems climate resilience and sustainable financing.

  • Cognizant that parties at COP29 will be considering further guidance on the features of NDCs, ACHA-AFRICA calls for an expedited process to integrate Health within the core design features in any future and updated NDCs. This will ensure climate resilient health indicators are integrated in the future NDCs especially for least developed countries like Africa, prioritize implementation of the integrated health and climate actions.

  • The parties ought to ensure sustainable financing for climate change resilience of the health sector by strengthening and bringing on board private sector players to advance the business agenda for innovations and demand-driven private climate financing. The principle of private-public partnership for climate is a game changer in realizing sustainable financing mechanisms.

5. LOSS AND DAMAGE

We appreciate the commitment to financing Loss and Damage and as the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) progresses, enhanced financial support for loss and damage targeting the health sector, should be prioritized so that least developed countries like those in Africa, are able to ensure health systems are strengthened to adapt to climate shocks.

  • We call upon parties to provide safeguards and targets for rights-based and gender transformative approaches for the protection of people lives and health systems in addition to most vulnerable communities such as women, youth, children, climate migrants and indigenous with adequate funding for relocation and adaptation in the face of climate-induced loss and damage.

  • We call upon parties to fast-track the operationalization of the institutional framework for Loss and Damage to enable timely and equitable access. Access to L&D funds should be streamlined and simplified to avoid bureaucratic delays with clearly defined and achievable timelines and targets to ensure the predictability of the fund.

  • We call upon parties to increase financing for health-related Loss and Damage interventions specifically in least developed countries like in Africa. Accessible and equitable financing mechanisms, such as grants and insurance, are crucial for immediate responses and for building long-term health resilience.

  • ACHA-AFRICA also calls upon negotiators to emphasize the need for Loss and Damage to be a separate pillar of the NCQG in addition to encouraging parties to establish a Health-based loss and damage accountability funding mechanism with opportunity for governments especially least developed countries to access grants for Health projects within the scope of the loss and damage fund.

  • Ensure the delivery and availability of technical assistance by the Santiago Network at national and sub national levels to address loss and damage in addition to identifying Santiago Network on Loss and Damage focal points inclusive of health experts with clearly defined roles at all levels.

6. TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSFER

Developing and transferring technologies to support national action on climate change has been an essential element from the beginning of the UNFCCC process. In 1992, when countries established the convention, they included specific provisions on technology with the aim of achieving the ultimate objective of the convention. The convention notes that all parties shall promote and cooperate in the development and transfer of technologies that reduce emissions of GHGs. It also urges developed country parties to take all practicable steps to promote, facilitate and finance the transfer of or access to climate technologies to other parties particularly to developing countries. Furthermore, the convention states that the extents to which developing country parties will effectively implement their commitments will depend on the effective implementation by developed country parties of their commitments under the convention related to financial resources and transfer of technology.

Least developed countries especially in Africa, have continuously suffered from inability to access technology development for improving their health systems leading to loss of lives and poor infrastructure that has been affected by the climate-induced shocks such as hurricanes, earthquakes, flooding and heat stress.

  • As COP29 takes place in Baku, Azerbaijan, we call upon the developed countries to promote, facilitate and finance the transfer of environmentally sound health technologies to least developed countries such as Africa so that the governments are able to afford investment in modern health technology development which would lead to improved and climate resilient health systems in addition to integrating Health in the Technology development and transfer negotiations during and after COP29.

  • We call upon the Technology Executive Committee (TEC) of the UNFCCC to prioritize bringing on board the Health experts from least developed countries in its membership so that the discussions targeting health technology development are not left behind in the climate negotiations.

  • We call upon COP29 to promote Health with in the technology transfer and exchange between developed and least developed countries to reduce on brain drain and technology foreign reliance and enhance best practice sharing, increased investment in technology, knowledge and skill development.

  • We call upon COP29 and the parties to support least developed countries with adoption to Artificial intelligence in health service delivery through capacity building and financing for upgrading health systems to AI with in the climate change parameters to reduce on emissions and over expenditure on human resource development for health sector climate resilience.

  • COP29 should encourage/promote collaboration between the financial and technology mechanisms working closely with World Health Organization as a means to leverage financial resources that enable access to relevant and modern health technology. This will foster partnerships that leverage diverse expertise and resources to address health sector climate-induced hazards.

  • We call upon COP29 parties to prioritize financing for Green-Health Licensing under GRIPs allowing developing nations to manufacture and utilize green-related technologies and products powering their health systems such as clean and renewable energy, thermal, solar and wind technologies which are more reliable and sustainable among least developed countries.

7. JUST ENERGY TRANSITION FOR A RESILIENT HEALTH SYSTEM

At the COP28 climate summit last year, nations took a historic step by agreeing to call on each other to transition away from fossil fuels and pledging to triple renewable energy capacity globally by 2030.COP29 is rightly positioned as a financial COP and is the opportunity to make significant progress on paying for the transition and greenhouse gas emissions cuts with end to fossil fuels which have greatly affected the health sector.

  • We all upon COP29 to adhere to realization of a just and equitable transition to renewable energy with the new-post 2025 finance goal being negotiated to include Health-related financing indicators for a green-health system with the goal to deliver on the scale of finance across sub-goals of emission cuts(mitigation), adapting to climate change(adaptation) and loss and damage. This would be enhanced by realizing progressive reforms around policy, debt, fossil fuels subsidies and transparency mechanisms targeting least developed countries accessing financing as grants instead of loans which loans have made LDCs debt trapped.

  • We call upon COP29 to prioritize developing a meaningful outcome for MITIGATION WORK PROGRAMME(MWP) with bold leadership involving least developed countries and Health-focused non-state actors by bridge-building to overcome opposition from fossils-enhancers. This calls for aligning the Global Stock take outcomes to the 2030 energy ambition.

  • COP29 should be seen advancing gender and justice through its planning and implementation of the energy transition agenda with meaningful participation of least developed countries, health experts in its leadership and ensuring women, children, persons living with different abilities and youth are not left behind in the negotiations.

  • COP29 should ensure a total-fossil fuels phase out agenda is concluded and ensure health experts and LDCs are part of the discussions in addition of provision of adequate financing for LDCs capacity building and technology development and transfer for realization of sustainable green-health systems and programs.

8. GENDER AND CLIMATE JUSTICE

We acknowledge the ongoing efforts to finalize the Gender Action Plan (GAP), which outlines the implementation and interconnectedness of gender and climate change. We call for the expedited completion of the process to ensure that gender considerations are incorporated and considered in the design and rollout of climate actions and policies. We call upon parties to promote gender-sensitive climate education to enhance women's girls’, persons living with disabilities and youth engagement in leadership and advocacy.

  • We call upon COP29 parties to ensure the adoption of an intersectoral approach and equal representation of women and girls in climate science policy interface agenda, NDCs and NAPs in addition to parties conducting periodic Gender Impact Assessments and ensure findings are integrated into health and climate policy development processes.

  • We urge COP29 to enable meaningful participation from the Global South especially from Africa non-state actors by providing financial support and addressing barriers to access, including meeting spaces, information access, and affordable logistics including negotiation spaces.

  • We call on parties to promote inclusive educational initiatives that are aimed at building capacity of women and girls in climate negotiation processes, amplifying their voices and ensure spaces are provided for influencing decision making and addressing gender-specific challenges and development of inclusive market systems and gender- responsive policies with curricula reviews that integrate climate and health education.

  • We call for clear and inclusive plans for a just transition to a green economy, including job retraining programs, social protection, and investments in green jobs across sectors for women.

9. CARBON MARKETS FOR SUSTAINABLE HEALTH OUTCOMES

Article 6 of the Paris Agreement sets out the principles for carbon markets. At COP29, governments must fix all the outstanding issues so as to ensure that Article 6 advances, rather than sets back, the climate agenda. Developments on Article 6.2. and 6.4 have somewhat stalled recently, so COP29 is eagerly awaited by stakeholders to see if a breakthrough is possible.

  • We call upon COP29 to expedite finalization of the operationalization of Article 6 of the Paris agreement and ensure strong social safeguards to foster permanence and non-reversibility ensuring protection of the communities, indigenous groups affected and carbon markets that prioritize sustainable health financing with safe guards to debt traps and unjust share of the proceeds.

  • Carbon credits should be excluded from counting towards climate finance pledges for mitigation actions as they represent an incentive mechanism rather than a direct financial contribution to climate goals and therefore should not diminish the responsibility of developed countries to fulfill their pledged climate finance commitments.

  • We call upon COP29 to keenly discuss and address the unfair treatment of companies from developed countries that manipulate African governments into signing unfair contracts which make African governments get RAW-DEALS from these carbon markets. Africans demand fair sharing of proceeds and just treatment by Global north countries and companies in relation to meeting their obligations which proceeds would strengthen the climate resilience of numerous sectors of economies including Health.

10. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND ECOSYSTEMS FOR IMPROVED HEALTH OUTCOMES

Sustainable food systems are the key elements in realizing climate adaptation for the health sector. This is through promoting improved food security and nutrition for healthy bodies and livelihoods. Realizing food security requires adequate investment in human and financing resources. The high carbon diets with the increased aflatoxins, are the most causes of death related to access to food. In addition, many countries in Africa especially in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel are greatly ravaged by heat waves and drought leading to food insecurities leading to malnutrition and death.

  • We call upon COP29 to expedite the Just Transition focusing on Agriculture with reduced emissions parameters compelling high polluters to reduce on emissions and help accountable for the impact in line with Polluter-pays principle. This will go a long way to advance justice for the leads developed countries that remit less yet the climate impact is severe compared to global north in addition to considering dialogue on just transition in food systems under the Just Transition Work Programme (JTWP).

  • We urge parties to actively promote agroecology, climate-smart agriculture, agroforestry, and regenerative agriculture to enhance food production chains and decrease community vulnerability to global climate shocks.

  • We call on COP29 to prioritize agriculture, food security, water and health as key priorities for Africa climate resilience and thus call for ambitious targets in the NDCs and provide adequate resources in the NCQG and Loss and Damage framework and other means of implementation (technology transfer and capacity building) to effectively implementation of adaptation measures.

  • We urge parties to actively promote agroecology, climate-smart agriculture, agroforestry, and regenerative agriculture to improve nutrition, food production chains, reduce incidence of malnutrition and decrease community vulnerability to global climate shocks.

  • We demand that COP29 acknowledge the crucial role of food sovereignty and Indigenous foodways in mitigating the impacts of climate change on agriculture and food systems.

  • We call upon COP29 to ensure adequate finance allocations for improving agriculture and food systems with the New Collective Quantifiable Goal (NCQG) on Climate Finance and Loss and Damage fund hence leading to improved health outcomes.

11. CAPACITY BUILDING FOR IMPROVED HEALTH SYSTEMS

Capacity-building is fundamental to achieving the objectives of the UNFCCC convention, the Paris Agreement and the Kyoto Protocol. It enables individuals, organizations and societies to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Capacity-building is provided through bilateral and multilateral efforts within and outside the Convention. The institutional architecture addressing capacity building in the UNFCCC process has been evolving since the establishment of the Convention in 1992 and the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 under Article 10(e).

Under the Paris Agreement, Capacity building is well stipulated in Articles 11 and 12. Capacity building of the health sector to mitigate and adapt to climate change is very key for achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals especially SDGs 3,5 and 13 in a bid not to leave any one behind.

  • We call upon COP29 to streamline the integration of Health in the Capacity-Building framework of the climate negotiations with clear mechanisms for supporting least developed countries to acquire skills and technology to harness from their resources for sustainable health sector climate resilience interventions.

  • We call upon COP29 to prioritize empowering least developed countries with capacity building support related to financing mechanisms with in the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) and Loss and Damage fund mechanisms to foster strong system development for climate resilience and investment in health-related adaptation and mitigation programs such as developing and implementation of National Adaptation Plans for Health(H-NAPs).

  • We call upon COP29 leadership to prioritize provision of technical expertise to least developed countries especially in Africa in carbon market development, monitoring and verification which will enhance effective utilization and reporting of the proceeds with strong systems for carbon market management and development.

In conclusion, COP29 offers a great opportunity to ensure Health is prioritized and integrated into UNFCCC negotiations and processes under the Paris Agreement, particularly in key themes like climate finance, adaptation, mitigation, gender, NCQG and loss and damage. We insist that the incorporation of Health into climate negotiations be accompanied by clear targets, dedicated budget allocations, and investments in co-benefits.

The COP29 provides a great chance for mainstreaming Health in the climate change negotiations and the processes for ensuring Health as a standalone theme for climate change discussionsstart. This will be a game changer in the future climate negotiations with Health as a priority especially at COP30 in Belem, Brazil in November 2025.