Africa’s Wish List for an Ambitious and Equitable COP28

The document details Africa's strategic position for COP28, as framed by the Nairobi Declaration. It argues that the continent must shift from being viewed as a 'climate victim' to a 'climate champion' by leveraging its renewable energy potential and critical minerals. Central to this is a demand for a complete overhaul of the global financial architecture to increase grant-based and concessional finance, as current investments are far below the $2.8 trillion needed by 2030. The brief emphasizes the urgent need to operationalize the Loss and Damage Fund and double adaptation finance to prevent an estimated $6 trillion in economic losses by 2035. It also highlights the importance of the first Global Stocktake as an accountability tool to hold the world's largest emitters and fossil-fuel companies responsible.

• Africa requires $2.8 trillion to meet its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by 2030, which is ten times the current level of climate investment on the continent.
• Without a sustained increase in adaptation finance, Africa could lose up to $6 trillion in economic benefits by 2035. To build resilience, the continent needs a nearly 10-fold increase in adaptation funding to $100 billion annually.
• The Nairobi Declaration seeks to redefine Africa's role in global climate discourse, moving from a narrative of victimhood to one of a strategic partner and 'climate champion' capable of leading a low-carbon transition.
• Africa aims to significantly scale its renewable energy capacity, calling for an increase from 56 GW in 2022 to at least 300 GW by 2030.
• The continent possesses critical resources for the global energy transition, including 40% of the world's renewable energy resources and significant mineral reserves, such as 91% of the world's platinum and 22% of its manganese in South Africa, and 50% of the world's cobalt in the DRC.
• The first Global Stocktake at COP28 is viewed as a vital accountability mechanism for Africa to press for climate justice and highlight the failure of commitments from the world's largest greenhouse gas emitters and fossil-fuel companies.
• African nations are pursuing carbon market development, with the Africa Carbon Markets Initiative targeting the annual generation of 300 million carbon credits from African projects by 2030.

APA

CHEVALLIER, R., SACK, H., & MCLEAN, J. (2023). Africa’s Wish List for an Ambitious and Equitable COP28. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SAIIa_PI_149_AfricasWishesCOP28.pdf

Chicago

CHEVALLIER, ROMY, HANNAH SACK, and JORDAN MCLEAN. Africa’s Wish List for an Ambitious and Equitable COP28. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2023. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SAIIa_PI_149_AfricasWishesCOP28.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=CHEVALLIER |first1=ROMY |last2=SACK |first2=HANNAH |last3=MCLEAN |first3=JORDAN |title=Africa’s Wish List for an Ambitious and Equitable COP28 |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=November 2023 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SAIIa_PI_149_AfricasWishesCOP28.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{chevallier2023africas, author = {CHEVALLIER, ROMY and SACK, HANNAH and MCLEAN, JORDAN}, title = {{Africa’s Wish List for an Ambitious and Equitable COP28}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2023}, month = nov, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SAIIa_PI_149_AfricasWishesCOP28.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }