First, Automatic Exit from the Paris Agreement
Under Article 28.3 of the Paris Agreement, any party that withdraws from the parent UNFCCC convention is automatically considered to have withdrawn from the Paris Agreement as well. While a standard withdrawal from the Paris Agreement typically takes one year to process, a withdrawal from the UNFCCC triggers a complete exit from all subordinate accords, including the mechanisms established under Article 6.

Impact on Article 6 Mechanisms
Article 6 of the Paris Agreement enables countries to cooperate through carbon markets to meet their climate targets (NDCs). The U.S. withdrawal impacts these mechanisms in the following ways:

Loss of Participation Rights
As a non-party, the United States loses its right to participate in official emission trading under the Paris Agreement. It can no longer use Article 6.2 (bilateral cooperation) or Article 6.4 (the global carbon market) to transfer or receive “internationally transferred mitigation outcomes” (ITMOs).

Exclusion from Governance
The U.S. will no longer have a seat at the table to shape the evolving rules for international carbon markets. This includes losing the right to vote on decisions within the governing bodies of the Paris Agreement or nominate members to technical committees overseeing Article 6 implementation.

Reduced Market Demand and Liquidity
As one of the world’s largest economies and potential buyers and sellers of carbon credits, the U.S. exit significantly reduces the potential scale and liquidity of the Article 6 global carbon market.

Policy Volatility for Private Sector
U.S. based companies and investors who planned around standardized global carbon rules face increased risk premiums and policy uncertainty. Without federal participation in Article 6, U.S. entities may find it harder to align domestic offsets with international standards, potentially leaving them exposed to foreign climate-linked trade measures. The U.S. withdrawal creates a leadership vacuum in the technical and diplomatic development of Article 6. Experts note that other major economies, such as China and the European Union, are likely to take over the role of defining the underlying norms and rules for international climate finance and carbon trading.

According to a  2024 World Bank report, A number of States in the US had made progress to enact new or expand existing carbon pricing instrument. Additionally , American video streaming company Netflix, technology giant Apple and America’s Delta Airlines are among the top global companies capitalizing on Kenya’s voluntary carbon market.

It  is worth noting that  U.S based Delta Air Lines was a top buyer, purchasing a combined 1,164 kilotonnes of CO₂ equivalent (KtCO₂e) from projects in Kenya and Uganda. Additionally, Netflix acquired 699 KtCO₂e from Kenyan projects and Apple was listed among the top global companies capitalising on Kenya’s voluntary carbon market. The main question here is will their investment change gicen  Trump’s new directive?  Again will the  BHP (an Anglo-American multinational mining company):  that bought 200 KtCO₂e from Kenya recover from its investments? Finally, will Meta (Facebook’s parent company) continue to buy carbon credits from Kenyan projects, such as the Northern Rangelands Carbon Project?

In response to this impending crisis, the climate Change Directorate (CCD) under the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Kenya, held a workshop to fast-track discussion on solutions to address this existential threat by enhancing access to the newly established Fund to Respond to Loss and Damage (FRLD) through its Barbados Implementation Modalities.

The Barbados Implementation Modalities (BIM) guides the operationalization of the global response to loss and damage under Article 8 of the Paris Agreement. The BIM also reaffirms that support for Parties (Nation States) that have suffered Loss and Damage will be needs-based The BIM also stipulates priorities for climate-vulnerable countries.

Kenya’s bold step to tap into the FRLD is critical in addressing the escalating climate crisis that continues to inflict severe ecological, economic, and social impacts. The current dire consequences of rising lakes being witnessed in the country is unprecedented. This move is timely, after the proposal submission window for application for the funds was announced during the just concluded COP 30 signaling the start for proposal development.

Over the last 3 decades, Kenya has witnessed a dramatic shift in its water landscape. Rising water levels have transformed the physiognomy of lakes and rivers, with for example Lake Baringo expanding by 107%% , thousands of communities and threatening biodiversity.

Speaking during one of the sessions, James Thonjo, a senior climate change officer with Kenya’s Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, said, “The losses and damages from climate change can no longer be ignored.”

“We have witnessed rising water levels in the recent past that have ravaged communities of their livelihoods,” Thonjo continued, highlighting the immediate and visible impacts.

Notably, in 2024 flash floods, exacerbated by an unprecedented El Niño, ravaged the country, claiming over 174 lives, displacing over 500,000 households. The unabated floods also destroyed 17,000 acres of farmland.

Markedly, these climate-related disasters were not isolated incidents. Kenya faces an annual economic loss of approximately 2.6% of its GDP due to climate variability and extreme weather events. The country’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), which cover approximately 90% of its territory, are particularly vulnerable, with droughts affecting 8 million Kenyans and forcing 286,000 to migrate.

Lerenten Lelekoitien, the Deputy Director Climate Change Adaptation, at the Climate Change Directorate, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry said, “The journey that led to establishment of the FRLD has been tough and challenging and developing countries should take advantage of the funds to support the local communities cope with the ever-worsening climate induced loss and damage impacts.”

Lerenten however stated that developing a comprehensive and compelling proposal requires high quality robust and evidence-based data hence the need for the development of practical and fit for purpose data collection tools during the workshop.

With the same tone, Professor Simon Onywere from Kenyatta University said, “Climate change is one of the major drivers of the rising lakes and hence application for FRLD funds are quite in order.” The Professor who has done extensive research on rising water levels along the Rift Valley Lakes reiterated the worsening impacts faced by the communities.

Professor Onywere further, underscored the need for government to increase funds allocation to support these communities including through accessing the available global funding like the FRLD.

As parties commence the process of accessing FRLD, it’s important to note that the funds cannot adequately address all the devastating impacts and hence the need for all relevant stakeholders to come together to support the affected communities. The developed countries to continue to capitalize this fund to make it adequately address ever expanding need for funds.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia— The curtains have fallen on the second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2), but the echoes are anything but quiet. From government corridors to grassroots movements, the message resounding through the halls of Addis Ababa was clear,  Africans are done waiting.

This year’s summit sharpened focus on the just transition, climate finance, and Africa’s mineral wealth. Yet, behind the polished declarations and photo ops, civil society, campaigners, and faith leaders delivered a firestorm of unfiltered truths.

Speaking to the Liberal news network, Dean Bhekumuzi Bhebhe of Power Shift Africa warned that declarations mean little without dignity. Bhebhe said,  “Finance without fairness is fragile. Africa is no longer waiting to be invited to the future. We are building it now.”

With the same tone, Amos Wemanya from Greenpeace Africa said,  “A just transition is not only about renewable energy. It is about fairness.” Wemanya insisted that, ” Without holding polluters accountable, Africa risks carrying the burden of climate action on its shoulders while the biggest emitters continue business as usual.”

Likewise,  Dr. Mfoniso Xael of HOMEF slammed carbon markets as “false fixes,” while Nafi Quarshie of NRGI celebrated the recognition of minerals but cautioned against “repeating past mistakes” of extractivism.

The climate justice activists were unfiltered. In particular, Mwenya Chitambala of the Laudato Si Movement said, “A just transition cannot be imposed from the top it must rise from the grassroots.” Chitambala  lauded that “In Africa, the Church is more than just a place of worship, it is the heartbeat of the community.”

Accordingly, Rajneesh Bhuee of Recourse said that there is a clear line between justice and hypocrisy. Bhuee insisted that, “Africa cannot solve a crisis it did not cause with loans that deepen debt.” He also stated that Africa needs grant-based finance, not gas-fueled false solutions.”

The chorus for a just transition resounded, and most of the civil society actors and activists who attended insisted that  Africa’s renewable potential is vast, its communities resilient, and its leaders ambitious. The activists agreed that without accountability, taxing polluters, regulating extractive industries, and embedding justice into finance declarations risk long historical promises for a just transition will be forever deferred.

Although the second Africa Climate Summit has concluded, the battle lines for COP30 in Belém are already drawn. African climate justice activists insist that the time for empty frameworks is over.

In attendance were government delegates, civil society representatives, economists, and climate and gender experts from the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, India, Italy, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Panama, Philippines, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, the United States, Zimbabwe, and beyond. Some netizens also zoomed into the symposium and contributed to the session with the same gusto that in-person attendees had .

Speaking during the Social Protection, Alternative Livelihood and Climate Resilience session, Hugo Rolando Nopo Aguilar, Senior Economist, a World Bank expert, said,  “Brazil is one of the countries prone to natural disasters.” Aguilar admitted that the timing for discussing climate change resilience could not be more urgent. “

In his presentation, he underscored that the poor in Brazil are disproportionately affected by natural disasters. He also highlighted that in  Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), Brazil is expected to have the highest increases in poverty due to disasters.

Accordingly, Mohamed Ageez, Youth Participation Officer, UNFPA ASRO, stated that climate change remains the most significant environmental challenge of our era.”

Ageez admitted that climate change disproportionately impacts those least responsible for it, citing that women and girls, particularly in low-income nations, face heightened risks from extreme weather events.”

Accordingly, Augustus Lito M. Narag, EnP, Officer In Charge, Director for Mindanao Affairs and Concurrent Director for Data Management and Systems, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) on Conditional Cash Transfer in the Philippines, made a presentation that revealed that gender-based violence is exacerbated by climate change. Narag, also said that climate change disrupts access to sexual and reproductive health services and deepens economic inequities.

Markedly, participants from Brasília, policymakers, climate scientists, health experts, youth leaders, and civil society activists who attended the session admitted that climate action needs to prioritize human rights and resilience.

While addressing the panel discussion, Thais Lemos Ribeiro, Coordinator of Education in Human Rights and the Environment at the Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship, said that “Climate change is not just an environmental crisis, it’s a human rights crisis.” Ribeiro insisted that while many discussions focus mainly on combating climate change, the dignity, health, and choices of millions, especially women and young people, need to be prioritized.”

Notably, Bothaina Eltigani, a PhD candidate at the University of Oxford, presented evidence on the link between food security and the reduction of gender-based violence against adolescent girls affected by drought in Southern Africa. She emphasized that rights-based social protection offers a vital opportunity to implement transformative climate financing, addressing not only environmental challenges but also the intertwined socioeconomic and political factors that exacerbate vulnerability. She underscored that climate solutions should not just be regurgitated in summits but implemented in grassroots places.

The symposium was a strategic milestone on the road to COP30, which also comes three decades after the landmark International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The symposium builds on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, emphasizing that climate justice must uphold sexual and reproductive health, combat gender-based violence, and dismantle harmful practices.

Whether all the discussions will explore research gaps, showcase rights-based adaptation strategies, and push for stronger partnerships to finance climate-resilient health systems will only be told in the sands of time.

From Dependency to Development

For decades, Africa has lived on the promises of climate funding from developed nations, pledges often laden with conditions and delays. These nations whose own economic prosperity was built on the back of fossil fuels now push Africa to embrace renewable energy while continuing to power their industries with coal and oil. This glaring double standard threatens to undermine Africa’s economic sovereignty and risks turning the continent into a laboratory for renewable energy experiments that serve foreign interests over local communities

Innovating for Resilience

Africa is brimming with potential to lead the charge in sustainable development. From investing in renewable energy infrastructure to promoting circular economies and indigenous climate solutions, the continent can redefine what a just transition looks like. Homegrown initiatives such as Kenya’s geothermal energy projects or Rwanda’s green urban planning models are examples of how Africa can build resilience from within. By focusing on localized solutions, Africa can not only reduce its vulnerability to climate shocks but also assert itself as a leader in global climate action. Moreover, African nations must unite in demanding greater accountability from developed countries to drastically reduce their emissions, rather than shifting the burden to developing regions.

Addressing the Social Dimensions

Climate change is not just an environmental issue, it’s a human one. In Africa, its impacts disproportionately affect women, indigenous communities, and public health systems. Women, who often bear the responsibility of providing for families, are hit hardest by droughts, floods, and food insecurity. Indigenous peoples, the stewards of Africa’s rich biodiversity, face displacement and loss of cultural heritage due to climate-driven land degradation. Africa’s climate strategy must integrate these social dimensions. Empowering women through education and resource access, protecting indigenous rights, and strengthening health systems are critical steps in building a climate-resilient continent.

A Vision for Africa’s Climate Sovereignty

COP29 has made one thing clear, Africa cannot entrust its climate future to the Global North. While international cooperation remains vital, true progress demands an African-led revolution in climate action. By rejecting dependency, embracing innovation, and centering its people on climate strategies, Africa can turn its greatest challenge into its greatest opportunity. The time is now for African nations to rise, united in their resolve to build a sustainable and equitable future. Africa has the power to lead the fight against climate change—not as victims, but as visionaries shaping a new global narrative where justice, equity, and resilience take center stage.

Yet, the response from historic polluters has been nothing short of disgraceful. Their counteroffer of a mere $250 billion to be “mobilized” by 2035 is not only insufficient but also laden with poor-quality financing schemes. These so-called solutions often come in loans or market-based mechanisms, exacerbating economic entrapment rather than alleviating it.

For the Global South, climate finance must be transformative. It should come as grants, not loans that perpetuate dependency and debt. It must include the cancellation of all climate-related debts, freeing developing nations from financial burdens that hinder their capacity to build resilience. Most critically, it must involve the transfer of life-saving technologies to enable the manufacturing and deployment of renewable energy, clean cooking systems, sustainable transportation, and the infrastructure needed for climate adaptation and resilience.

What the Global North is offering is not just inadequate; it is an outright insult. It mocks the urgency of the climate crisis and disrespects the delegations tirelessly advocating for justice at COP29. Let us not forget that the United States alone, in the aftermath of World War II and the Great Depression, provided the equivalent of $1.3 trillion in today’s dollars through the Marshall Plan to rebuild war-torn Europe. If such an investment was possible then, why is it inconceivable now for the industrialized world to take responsibility for a crisis it created?

The Global South must stand united and remain firm, for there is no use in accepting deals that undermine our future. No deal is better than a bad deal. We are the global majority, and with unity, we can leverage the complementarity of our resources and capabilities to push for a new international economic order rooted in justice, peace, and prosperity.

If the Global North continues to shirk its responsibilities, the Global South must be prepared to escalate its stance. This could include restricting access to our strategic minerals, withholding entry to our markets, and collectively wielding our economic weight to demand real climate action.

The $1.3 trillion demand is not merely a financial request; it is a call for equity, accountability, and the survival of humanity. Anything less is an abdication of moral responsibility. The time for half-measures and empty promises is over. It is time for the Global North to act decisively—or risk being held accountable by a united and resolute Global South.

Fadhel Kaboub
Senior Advisor at Power Shift Africa, Member of the Independent Expert Group on Just Transition and Development

A Crisis in the ASALs

For the women of Narok, life has always been tethered to the land. Over 70% rely on rain-fed agriculture and firewood collection, but intensifying droughts have decimated crop yields, plunging families into hunger and despair (UNDP, 2023). The consequences are dire: child marriages are on the rise, and many are forced into unsafe migration in search of survival. A 2023 study by the African Center for Health, Climate & Gender Justice found that 8 in 10 women in Narok cite drought as their primary threat to food and income. Yet, cultural norms and economic barriers block their access to productive livestock, a lifeline in a region where crops increasingly fail.

Youth, too, face a bleak future. With a 40% unemployment rate in rural Kenya (KNBS, 2022), many young people are abandoning agriculture, seeing no viable path forward. Community-based organizations (CBOs), eager to restore degraded landscapes, lack the resources and expertise to act. Against this backdrop, WREST is a beacon of hope.

Livestock as a Lifeline

At the heart of WREST is a bold strategy: equipping women with drought-resilient livestock breeds tailored for Narok’s punishing climate. Dorper sheep, prized for their rapid growth and market value, Boer goats, known for their hardy meat production, and Sahiwal cattle, reliable milk producers in dry conditions, are distributed to women across the county. These animals are more than assets—they’re a pathway to economic independence and food security.

But WREST goes beyond handing out livestock. The project provides comprehensive training in sustainable livestock management, from breeding to health care, paired with ongoing extension support. “The WREST project will transform lives in Narok and beyond,” says Tony Kirimi, the initiative’s operational lead, his voice brimming with conviction. For women like Esther, a 34-year-old mother of three, the impact is tangible. “Before WREST, I had nothing to sell when the rains failed,” she says, stroking a Dorper sheep. “Now, I have income, and my children eat.”

Innovating for Sustainability

WREST’s ingenuity extends to its eco-friendly feed solutions. By incorporating bagasse—a byproduct of sugarcane—into animal feed, the project turns agricultural waste into a nutrient-rich resource, reducing costs and environmental impact. Fodder trees, vanilla cuttings, and resilient grass seeds are also distributed, restoring degraded landscapes while diversifying income streams. These practices align with global calls for climate-smart agriculture, offering a model for other arid regions.

A Ripple Effect

The project’s impact reaches beyond individual women. By empowering them, WREST strengthens entire communities. Women’s newfound economic stability reduces early marriages and keeps children in school. Youth, inspired by viable agricultural models, are reconsidering farming as a career. CBOs, bolstered by WREST’s technical support, are beginning to lead local conservation efforts.

In Narok, where the land once seemed to offer only hardship, WREST is sowing seeds of resilience. Its success could light the way for similar initiatives across Kenya’s ASALs, proving that even in the harshest climates, women can lead the charge toward a sustainable future. As the world grapples with climate change, Narok’s women are showing what’s possible when innovation meets determination.

Imali Ngusale, founder of the African Center for Health, Climate & Gender Justice Alliance (ACHCGA), opened the discussion with a powerful statement, “Climate change is increasingly recognized as a significant factor impacting public health, particularly reproductive and maternal health.”

Ngusale emphasized that rising temperatures, water scarcity, and extreme weather events disproportionately affect women and girls, particularly in low-resource settings. She pointed out that disaster-prone regions experience heightened maternal mortality risks, with healthcare systems often unable to meet the increased demand for services. Pregnant women, newborns, and families are among the most vulnerable, facing threats from disrupted access to care, poor nutrition, and unsafe environments.

The discussion also underscored midwives’ indispensable role as frontline responders in this crisis, “Midwives are not only healthcare providers but also agents of change in their communities,” said Ngusale. “Their ability to adapt to climate challenges while safeguarding maternal and reproductive health is crucial.”

Dr. Mazen Mlkawi, Regional Director for Climate Change and Health at the World Health Organization (WHO), echoed Ngusale’s sentiments, noting the profound intersection of climate and health.

This sentiment was also echoed by Dr. Abderrahmane Sidi El Moctar of Mauritania, who moderated the session. Highlighting findings from a recent UNFPA study, he stated, ” UNFPA ‘s study shed light on the critical role midwives can play as catalysts for climate action, bridging the gap between policy and practice in vulnerable regions.”

Izzy Rigda, an Australian policy, economics, and public impact expert, stressed that climate change exacerbates gender disparities. In her view, “Climate shocks disproportionately impact women in the global south.”

Rigda said, “Women and girls are disproportionately affected by climate shocks. Some are forced to relocate, which increases their exposure to gender-based violence. Additionally, they often shoulder the burden of securing resources for their families in the aftermath of disasters.”

She called for stronger policy measures to protect women and girls and healthcare systems are not only climate-resilient but also gender-responsive.

The panel concluded with a resounding call to action, urging decision-makers to prioritize investments in midwifery training that address gender inequities. Additionally, the panelists called for the urgent need to integrate climate adaptation strategies into public health plans to safeguard reproductive and maternal health in the face of an uncertain climate future.

Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, Secretary General of the Union of the Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCGLA), underscored this in the morning while underscoring the urgent need for adaptation. 

Speaking  during a panel on emerging digital technologies, he said, “Adaptation is key in climate change resilience,” 

Mbassi also said, “Africa pays double what is going into African care, “ emphasizing that, “Africa  needs to use technology to try and catch up with adaptation.”

This notwithstanding the proposed technology for adaptation for Africa is largely foreign. The continent’s innovations  are less than 10 percent of the globally known ideas.

Notably, Mbassi also underscored the importance of transparency in climate finance. In his view “It is important to have a more transparent system,” 

However, transparency is a bit farfetched, Chris Poullaira, the Chief Technology Officer of Blockchains and Climate Institute, outrightly said while explaining the complexities of global governance. 

In a rather unorthodox stance, he said,” AI is not necessarily the panacea of climate change,”

“If we do not have a robust system that is timely and credible, it will be difficult to address the climate crisis.”

Poullaira believes that the challenges of building prototype technologies for climate change have caused an unspoken mistrust among stakeholders.

But he is not alone, a group of activists at COP29 also lauded his views stating that climate finance is a hoax and decision-makers have decided to make Africans more poorer by deliberately making them pay up for the challenges they already endure.

Whether COP 29 will yield any tangible outcomes to aid Africa’s burden will be told over time. 

The 2024 UN Climate Summit, COP29, kicked off this week in Baku, Azerbaijan, drawing an estimated 50,000 participants, a crowd nearly half the size of last year’s COP28 in Dubai. Speaking during the COP 29 event, Azerbaijan President Ilhan Aliyev said, “Having oil and gas is a gift from God,” underscoring the nation’s deep reliance on fossil fuels. The President also insisted that oil and gas were critical to Azerbaijan’s economy.

It is estimated that at least 60% of Azerbaijan’s revenue comes from fossil fuels. Perhaps this is the reason why climate activists criticized the Azerbaijan government for being hesitant to transition from fossil fuels. Critics also claim that clinging to fossil fuels risks sidelining the nation’s climate responsibilities. But worse, still, Azerbaijan’s emissions are set to increase by  20% by 2030.

Renowned climate activist Greta Thunberg also shared similar sentiments. She criticized Azerbaijan’s lack of ambition in addressing climate change, calling out as “greenwashing” efforts. Thunberg also emphasized that the country’s reliance on fossil fuels poses a significant threat to global climate goals. In an interview with journalists, she said that the Azerbaijan government was more concerned about securing oil and gas than securing alternative investments.

Accordingly, Niklas Hihne, a climate expert at the New Climate Institute said, “Azerbaijan is an autocratic country and was not a suitable host for the climate conference.”

In addition, Azerbaijani activist Bashit Suleymanli  said,” The Azerbaijan government needs to allow people to freely address themselves when it comes to climate justice.” The environmental rights defender and activist from the Climate of Justice Initiative called for more transparency and inclusivity in Azerbaijan’s climate policies.

Despite the criticism, Azerbaijan’s government proudly emphasizes its commitment to climate action, hosting high-profile events with global leaders to explore paths to lower emissions. Officials maintain that these efforts signal a serious intent to address the climate crisis.