By Innocent Obasi
Mo Ibrahim, the founder and chairman of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation (MIF), has noted that the recently held United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27), did not achieve the desired impact on Africa’s specific vulnerability to the impact of climate change.
Sharing his views on the conference, Ibrahim said; “We mustn’t delude ourselves into thinking that COP27 was a success for Africa. The summit did not sufficiently address the continent’s specific vulnerability to the impact of climate change, their absence of responsibility for the current crisis, nor their unique access to energy challenge.”
According to the business mogul, despite the efforts of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation and other African organisations to ensure fair representation, the conference notably failed to give due attention to Africa’s green and mineral assets, overlooking the continent’s huge impact to a global low-carbon future.
“As to the loss and damage fund that many would like us to celebrate as COP27’s key victory, it was reluctantly set up in the very last hours of proceedings, with no decision on structure, funding or process. It is a fund in name only,” he noted.
He, however, pointed out that there were several positive outcomes, noting that Africa and several committed partners made substantial headway in making the best of the continent’s potential and opportunities for a global green future.
“The launch of the African Carbon Market Initiative, the OPEC for rainforests, and the EU-Namibia/Egypt strategic partnership on green hydrogen are all important pragmatic steps that point to a way ahead. So, let’s move forward from there and continue to work towards a climate agenda for the many, not for the few,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, this week,unveiled its most recent research brief titled; ‘COP27: Taking stock of progress,’ which assessed the conference stock of progress based on the Sharm El-Sheikh Implementation Plan (COP27 cover decision).
It also tracked progress on global climate goals against MIF’s 15 key recommendations regarding Africa’s specific needs in terms of adaptation, Africa’s urgent energy access challenge, and Africa’s potential as a central player in a global green economy.
The brief considered COP27 as at when the summit was over and contrasted the summit’s accomplishments with the 15 key recommendations made in the Foundation’s most recent report and forum in order to successfully argue for the continent.
