Speaking during the session, H.E. Maurizio Massari, President of the assembly and permanent secretary from Italy to the United Nations, said, “Women and girls cannot wait 68 years for child marriage to become history.”

His words painstakingly underscored the slow progress since the Beijing Declaration, which set ambitious goals for empowering women and dismantling systemic barriers. Despite decades of advocacy, challenges like poverty and discrimination continue to undermine these rights.

Accordingly, Sima Bahous, the Executive Director for UN Women, said, “We want to place young people, feminists, girls, and young women at the centre of development. Let history judge us not by our promises but  by the rights fulfilled for women and girls .” She advocated for progress towards gender equality.

Maka Chikowero, founder and president of MTC Educate A Girl, decried, “Systemic poverty among  women contributes to  school dropouts.” Chikowero underscored that “Child marriage remains a challenge.” She decried that “Lack of access and the digital divide make it a challenge for women, especially those in the rural areas.”

Accordingly, Imali Ngusale, the Lead Strategist at the African Center for Health, Climate & Gender Justice Alliance (ACHCGA) said that there needs to be intentional funding for the Global South. Ngusale emphasized that the intentionality of gender equality must put in place mechanisms that attempt to help women in the global south.

“We must move beyond rhetoric and embrace change that will help us achieve what we have been documenting for the last 30 years,” added Ngusale while submitting the African Center for Health, Climate & Gender Justice Alliance (ACHCGA) position on gender justice.’

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.