MDC24: COP29 is a Missed Opportunity for Africa – Panel.

ABUJA: Panelists at the ongoing Media and Development Conference (MDC24) in Abuja, Nigeria, have described the outcome of the 29th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (COP29) as a missed opportunity for Africa to make its demands for climate justice.According to Ghana News Agency, COP29 was expected to be a pivotal moment for Africa's climate financing efforts; however, it failed to meet the continent's expectations. Ms. Cynthia N. Moyo, the Climate and Energy Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa, stated that the $300 billion public finance goal established during COP29 is insufficient compared to the $1.3 trillion needed to address the needs of climate-vulnerable communities globally. During a panel discussion titled 'COP29 and the Way Forward for Africa', Ms. Moyo criticized the climate financing offered at the conference in Azerbaijan, labeling it as 'exploitation' and 'climate colonialism'.The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) or ganized the conference in partnership with the USAID, Google News Initiative, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, National Endowment for Democracy, and Open Society Foundations, among others. The three-day event also included an 'AI and Media Summit,' focusing on the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the future of media and democracy.Despite the promise of $100 billion annually under the Paris Agreement to address climate change issues in Africa, the Global North offered $300 billion from now to 2035. This offer came as a disappointment to many African countries, which contribute less than 4 percent of global emissions yet face severe climate consequences like extreme droughts and catastrophic floods.Ms. Moyo emphasized the media's crucial role in climate change discourse by highlighting the lived experiences of affected communities. She encouraged communicators to connect global finance discussions to these experiences, as such stories can influence public opinion, shape policy decisions, and advocate for climate and environmental justice.Mr. Chinedu Onyegbula, Energy Specialist at the African Development Bank, stressed the importance of presenting Africa's best negotiators at climate negotiations. He advocated for a coordinated African voice and action plan, urging less developed and developing countries to present their demands and solutions during negotiations rather than passively accepting offers from developed nations.Mr. Sambou Kinteh, UNFCCC Focal Point from the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources in The Gambia, noted that COP29 provided financing for the Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE). He encouraged the media to utilize this financing through state governments to engage in climate change education and community sensitization efforts. ACE aims to empower society to participate in climate action through education, public awareness, training, and access to information.