In the intricate landscape of the climate crisis, discussions on climate finance often appear as a touchy subject, yet the starkly unequal climate impacts faced by global south countries challenge this perception. Despite the urgency, the commitment made by developed countries in the 2015 Paris Climate Change Conference to provide $100 billion annually by 2020 remains unfulfilled.
While the funds are ostensibly available, the disbursement process is ensnared in a perpetual conundrum, entangled with controversies and political ideologies. Meanwhile, the repercussions for African women are glaring—devastating floods in Algeria, droughts in Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya, and an unsettling pattern of climatic challenges.
Against this backdrop, African feminists and climate justice activists express deep concern over the sluggish response from the global north, which continues to bolster its prosperity through the consumption of fossil fuels. Dr. Melania Chiponda, a prominent figure in climate and gender justice space and a key advisor at the African Women’s Development and Communications Network (FEMNET), emphasized the necessity for climate finance that confronts existing oppressive power relations.
According to Dr. Chiponda, the climate burdens borne by Africa are a result of human-induced impacts orchestrated by the global north. Recognizing the disproportionate effects on women and girls, she advocates for a gender-inclusive climate finance plan. Idongest Umo, a feminist and gender equality activist from Nigeria, underscores the historical context of colonialism and unequal power dynamics in global climate finance institutions, asserting the need for a gender-inclusive climate finance fund in Africa.
Highlighting gender disparities in decision-making processes related to climate finance, Umo advocates for inclusive participation and decision-making. Kayiboni, a young African feminist from Mozambique, echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of inclusive processes in climate financing decisions.
A study on Climate Risk Management, Policy, and Governance projects staggering losses of approximately $290 billion to $580 billion annually for developing countries in the global south, reaching over $1 trillion by 2050. The urgency of disbursing climate finance to these nations becomes evident, allowing them to adapt and mitigate the impacts of a changing climate.
The Paris Agreement of 2015 reaffirms the obligation of developed countries to lead in mobilizing resources for climate finance. However, as preparations for COP28 unfold, the realization of this moral duty remains a perplexing political puzzle.