UoN VC Attends the African Adaptation Summit ahead of UN Climate Conference (COP27)

The University of Nairobi Vice Chancellor, Prof Stephen Kiama attended the African Adaptation Summit at Rotterdam, Netherlands on 5th September 2022 among other African and global leaders.

The main outcome of the Summit’s deliberations was to outline a 5-point “Adaptation Breakthrough for Africa at COP27”, and the key determinants of success for Africa at COP27, as follows: Africa at a tipping point, Africa is the most vulnerable continent to the consequences of the climate crisis, Adaptation finance doubling implementation, Capitalizing Africa’s Adaptation Program (AAAP) and Delivering the AAAP upstream financing facility.

CEO of the Global Centre on Adaptation (GCA), Prof Dr Patrick Verkooijen said: “Africa is unstoppable. But Africa is ground zero for the global climate breakdown. Nobody benefits if Africa fails to tackle it. Climate fallout in Africa cannot be contained so adaptation action can and must scale at breakneck speed across the continent.”

The Summit highlighted that Africa is warming faster than other regions. Its underlying socio-economic vulnerabilities also mean that nine out of ten of the world’s most vulnerable countries are in Africa.

African Union Chairperson and President of Senegal Macky Sall said, “You have to adapt or die. We do not have the choice. Our time to act is coming to an end. Africa must prioritize adaptation. Africa needs to invest massively in adaptation and resilience.”

His statement was emphasized by President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana and Chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), who said: “If we want Africa to thrive, we must adapt to climate change.

 Africa must close the adaptation financing gap. We cannot wait. It’s time to turn words into deeds and ambition into action. Crucially, we expect progress and we expect to see how funds will flow into country-led programs like the AAAP.”

One of the directives given to developed nations during the COP26 in Glasgow was that they need to at least collectively double climate adaptation finance to developing countries by 2025.

This was brought to account by UK Minister for COP26 Alok Sharma who said, “Public finance will not be enough, which is why initiatives such as the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Programme are key to mobilizing private sector engagement and investment for adaptation.”

Following her remarks, Norway’s Minister of International Development Anne Beathe Tvinnereim said “Norway has committed to double our climate finance and at least triple support to adaptation by 2026.”

As he made his closing remarks, Feike Sijbesma, Co-Chair of the GCA, noted, “The AAAP will be a crucial vehicle for triggering far greater business investment across Africa into green and resilient solutions. This is a collective effort, we need every sector, every contribution possible to see off the climate crisis in Africa, and the private sector, in particular, has a massive role to play.”

For more information read: African Leadership: World Must Double Down on Climate Adaptation to Secure Africa