By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider 

Leading voices in African climate change are calling for support for other entities to feel included within the G20 space as well as reform in international cooperation institutions.

Speaking at the Indaba Hotel in Fourways this afternoon AUDA-NEPAD, African Union Development Agency, addressed some of the ways in which the African Union can give an elevated voice to Africans. 

“We call for policy space and differentiated pathways that enable just, affordable, and inclusive energy transitions reflecting our national contexts. Climate ambition must advance hand-in-hand with poverty eradication, job creation, and economic growth,” said Nardos Bekele-Thomas, CEO of AUDA-NEPAD. 

The G20 have expressed that they will reaffirm the legal obligations under the Paris Agreement in specific regard to climate finance provisions by highly developed countries all the way to developing countries. 

There was a call for G20 support in terms of the Fourth Financing for Development outcomes which will include a commitment to governments all over the world through the United Nations (UN) in order to close gaps in debt architecture and explore debt sustainability options. 

“We urge the G20 to commit to local manufacturing, technology, transfer, and capacity development that strengthen Africa’s domestic capabilities” said Special Envoy for Climate Change in the Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Kenya, Amb Ali Mohamed.

In terms of energy transformation experts have suggested that G20 should prioritize investments in renewable energy generation, transmission, and storage infrastructure aligned with Africa’s regional power pools as well as calling for support in strengthening cross broader energy trade, grid interconnectivity and expansions in Just Energy Transition Partnership (JET-Ps).

Experts have noted a need for Africa to innovate its approach to enhancing access to climate finance as well as to enable translation of National Adaptation Plans in order to turn them into transformative adaptation actions.

Africa is the most vulnerable continent to the rise of climate change despite the continent’s carbon emission percentage being the lowest sitting at 4%. AUDA-NEPAD also highlighted that African Forests are efficient enough to lessen greenhouse gas emissions. There were also discussions of African countries transitioning away from fossil fuels. 

The AUDA-NEPAD have also cautioned that any structures for climate financing mobilization has an imperative to serve the needs of the countries that are under developed or have any “special needs” which includes Africa and noted that the G20 should commit to financing transitions to low-carbon and climate resilient development through grant based, predictable flows that address capital costs. 

“Africa demands fair participation in Global transitions, particularly across the critical minerals to clean technologies continuum.” said Amb Ali.

“We acknowledge the critical links between climate adaptation, mitigation ambition, and climate finance, emphasizing the significance of ambitious mitigation targets in G20 Nationally Determined Contributions,” said Amb Ali. 

Bekele Thomas also called for Africa’s engagement with the G20 to be grounded in principles of equity , justice, and shared responsibility, “We seek not clarity but partnership; not exclusion but fair participation in shaping our collective future. The path to global climate action must honour Africa’s right to sustainable development while contributing meaningfully to planetary goals” she said. 

The media briefing provided updates on Africa’s engagement in shaping G20 climate, environment, and sustainability priorities. Participants from the African Union Development Agency, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and the Office of the Special Envoy to the Conference of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) discussed strategies related to climate-resilient economies, low-emission development, and the financing of implementation measures. The discussions from the two-day consultations are intended to inform Africa’s contribution to ongoing G20 processes.