By Margaret Kadiri, Lecturer in Physical Geography at King’s College London.Originally Posted in dialogue

United Nations Climate Summit COP26The meeting, held in November 2021, focused the world’s attention on the urgent need to tackle climate change and reached agreement with 197 countries Glasgow Climate Pact. But the perception of the summit’s success is polarization.

We are deeply grateful to developing countries – including African countries – that agreed to the agreement.In doing so, they choose not to insist on being richer developed countries, whose historical and ongoing greenhouse gas emissions have largely contributed to the climate crisis, pay them compensation for the damage they have caused.

African countries continue to maintain a disproportionately enviable position vulnerable on climate change.Although the African continent has the smallest share of global greenhouse gas emissions – only 3.8% – it’s been heating faster than the rest of the world.

If global warming is limited to 1.5? Without surpassing pre-industrial levels, Africa could face catastrophic temperature rise Up to 3°C by 2050.

At the same time, the threat to the GDP of the African countries most vulnerable to these changes—meaning the amount of economic activity that would be lost if the changes were severe enough—is expected From £660 billion in 2018 to over £1 trillion in 2023. This is almost half of the continent’s projected GDP.

Given these estimates, Africa’s climate resilience must exceed global standards. And steps are being taken to protect the continent from the worst climate impacts through investment from governments and the private sector.organized as African Development Bank and United Nations Environment Programme also cause climate change adaptation measures, likes to work hard to protect mangrove forest on more than 200 million hectares of land.

However, the estimated annual cost of such climate adaptation in developing countries is approximately £52 billion – Expected to increase to £10-220 billion by 2030. While developed countries agreed in the Glasgow Pact to increase their developing countries’ climate change contribution by around £29bn by 2025, this is only a fraction of the amount needed.

Next step

One way to close this gap is to use Paris climate agreement, specifically, a subsection of Article 6 This allows high-emitting countries such as the US and UK to offset them by investing in sustainable initiatives such as reforestation in low-emitting countries, including African countries.This partnership can be a catalyst for low carbon Energy projects such as solar, geothermal and wind energy.

Another option could be to redirect local government funds to sustainable programs.Total fossil fuel subsidies provided by African governments rose to £55 billion In 2015 alone, it caused the “gradually decrease“These subsidies are enshrined in the Glasgow Climate Pact.

As subsidy money is flowing into a hiring less than 1% A portion of the African workforce, which can then be reinvested back into the African economy, creating inclusive, environmentally friendly jobs.For example, it might be used to fund startups such as thread maker: A Kenyan business makes paving bricks and tiles with materials recycled plastic.

Despite making the smallest contribution to climate change, many African countries are also making big strides in transitioning to renewable energy.the world’s largest Concentrated Solar Energy (CSP) facilities in Morocco, Noor Power Plant, which converts the sun’s energy into electricity for about 2 million homes.

Unlike the more widely used photovoltaic panels, CSPs can store solar energy at night and on cloudy days.The facility generates more than one-third of Morocco’s electricity while reducing carbon emissions by about 690,000 tons Per year.

Programs like this not only create more jobs, but they also make more money.depending on £236 billion new business opportunities aimed at Weather resistant Between now and 2030, food and land systems—including protecting local forest ecosystems and restoring degraded landscapes—can add to Africa’s economy every year.