PACJA Calls for resounding pathways and strategies for Africa to tap into Carbon market.
BY Elias Ngalame
The Pan African Climate Justice Aliance, PACJA has emphasized on the need for stakeholders to adopt a strategic approach that permits Africa tap into the carbon market opportunities without compromising on its current and future development aspirations.
PACJA CEO Dr. Mithika Mwenda made the call at the opening of the Africa Multistakeholder Conference on Carbon Markets in Addis Ababa July 24, 2024.
“That the use of natural resources for economic growth presents opportunities for Africa as the continent strives to green its economy is not in question Probably what would be encouraging is to see how this continent can tap into the opportunity presented by its rich natural capital for sustainable development, poverty reduction and advancing enjoyment of rights for all,” Dr Mithika noted.
The Africa Multi-stakeholders Conference on carbon markets, that runs from July 24-26, 2024, accordingly, is geared at enhancing understanding of carbon markets and their potential benefits and challenges in Africa.
The conference has been convened by the African Union Commission (AUC) through its Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE), in collaboration with its partners
According to a Press release by the African Union, the overall goal of the Conference is to provide a platform for the African continent to deliberate on carbon markets, the approaches and opportunities they present, the threats they pose, and possible options the continent can explore, taking into consideration its circumstances.
PACJA CEO, however caution that the conference should ensure that mobilize additional climate finance through carbon markets be done without compromising on principles of climate justice that PACJA has been pursuing.
He notes that the conference defines Africa’s strategic approach to the carbon markets in a broader and specific sense in terms of priority areas that portent potential for this investment.
It also plays in the undertones of Africa’s role in driving the global decarbonization agenda, with the potential for both accelerating decarbonization on one hand or providing a fertile ecosystem for carbon-addicted economies to continue with their business-as-usual model
“More importantly it comes at a time when the party states have locked horns in determining which way on the New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance,” Mithika said.
On behalf of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, civil society actors, and indigenous people of Africa, Mithika outlined their perception about the carbon markets.
“We view carbon markets as one of the false solutions and therefore continue to sustain a cautious approach to the carbon markets, advancing for positions and approaches that optimize benefits for African nations in the short run while advancing measures that starve the carbon markets of much-required investments and compelling developed nations to cut on their emissions.”
“ The moral calling implores upon us to deeply interrogate the position and the role of carbon markets within the context of the continent and hinging on the imperatives of climate justice. We are all perfectly aware that we are holding the conversation on carbon markets as a tool for the implementation of the Paris Agreement as a result of historical errors of omission and commission on our part.”
According to Mithika, the predicament Africa finds itself today in many of climate decisions was crystalized way back , calling on the need to strive to avoid compounding historical injustice but rather chart a transformative pathway.
“We are at this crossroads at a time when different African countries, who are differently endowed in tapping on the potential presented by carbon markets are in different camps. We have countries who are sold out for the carbon market, we have those against it, and by large those who are indifferent. This dichotomy should first and foremost guide our thoughts,” Mithika cautioned.