Africa is an important voice in the climate debate, Abigael Kima argues ahead of COP27. ‘Because although we are only responsible for 0.5 per cent of historical emissions and less than 4 per cent of the global emissions at the moment, we are the most negatively impacted.’
As the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference or ‘COP27’ approaches, 24-year-old Kenyan climate activist, Abigael Kima, is cautiously optimistic. This year’s conference will be held in November, in Egypt. African stakeholders have worked hard ahead of COP27 to ensure that African climate issues are well articulated, so Kima expects African climate issues to be prioritized at COP27. Although Africa contributes the least to carbon emissions, it is the most negatively impacted by climate change.
The producer and host of the Hali-Hewa podcast (Hali-Hewa is a Swahili term for ‘climate’), Kima advocates for real stories and experiences of African communities being impacted negatively by climate change to be used as reference points for decision making. Her podcast features African activists and climate experts as co-hosts, and discusses climate themes, including just energy transition, loss and damage, youth participation in intergovernmental processes and indigenous rights. Kima believes that only by acknowledging Africa’s unique climate challenges and taking appropriate actions—such as a clear pathway and financing for just energy—can we achieve climate justice for Africa.
In the following conversation, we spoke to Abigael about her expectations for the upcoming COP27, the need to prioritize African climate issues, and the ways in which young people can advocate for climate justice across Africa.
ELIZABETH ABATI
What are your expectations of the upcoming COP27? What are the agenda items you are most interested in?
ABIGAEL KIMA
My expectation out of this year’s COP is that Africa’s priorities will be acted upon. This is because throughout the year, civil society organizations, the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change, youth groups and other stakeholders in the climate space here in Africa have worked hard to ensure that our issues are well articulated.
The key agenda items that are of interest to me include: establishment of a loss and damage finance facility; a doubling up of the adaptation fund; and a clear pathway towards just energy transition in Africa.
ELIZABETH ABATI
This year’s COP will be held in Africa. Why is this important? What do you think this says about the importance of African voices in climate change conversations?
ABIGAEL KIMA
This will be the fifth time that COP will be held in Africa. Beyond the significance of the geographical location of COP27, the well-articulated Africana agenda and priorities is the reason why everyone is referring to this COP as an ‘African COP’.
Africa is an important voice in the climate debate because although we are only responsible for 0.5 per cent of historical emissions and less than 4 per cent of the global emissions at the moment, we are the most negatively impacted. Climate-related devastation is playing out across many African countries. Urban populations in Maputo, Kampala, Accra, Nairobi and Lagos are experiencing more frequent and severe floods. Extreme weather events, such as the cyclones that recently hit Mozambique, are made more likely by climate change, and are devastating a region with low adaptive capacity.
In Kenya, weather patterns have changed drastically. We are a country that largely depends on rainfed agriculture. But many of our people have not seen rain for two years. The northern part of Kenya is currently experiencing severe drought. I recently visited communities in Isiolo County and what I saw is beyond devastating. These are just a few examples of what communities are grappling with in the face of the climate emergency and this conversation for us touches on fairness, justice and human rights.
Although we [Africa] are only responsible for 0.5 per cent of historical emissions and less than 4 per cent of the global emissions at the moment, we are the most negatively impacted.
ELIZABETH ABATI
What’s the one thing international climate change conferences are failing at when it comes to representing African voices or experiences? And what’s one way this problem can be solved?
ABIGAEL KIMA
Apart from limitations of finances to allow more communities attend these conferences, I would say the biggest failure is the omission of real stories and experiences of communities already bearing the burden of the impacts of climate change as a reference point for decision making. In as much as numbers and statistics are important as represented by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Reports, it is crucial to contextualize these numbers using real life stories in order to show the need for urgency to act on climate change. There is a huge gap for communication and amplification for African climate stories and there’s no better time than now for collaboration among different stakeholders to really tell and amplify these stories.
ELIZABETH ABATI
You are already contributing to increasing the representation of and amplifying African voices and stories in climate change conversations via your podcast Hali Hewa which covers important African climate stories. What are the challenges you’ve faced? And how would you encourage others to similarly contribute to climate justice?
ABIGAEL KIMA
The key challenges I would say that I’ve faced are—one, growing an audience organically is not easy so I am still working towards building a substantive audience through authentic conversations; and two, fundraising and getting resources to continue the project is challenging for me as a young activist.
I wrote an article recently on the ways young people can engage in climate governance. Young people are innovative, creative and energetic. We are lucky to be alive at a time where we have access to highly advanced technology and have open platforms such as social media platforms that allow us to explore our creativity. Young people should use their unique talents and gifts to inspire climate action amongst their peers and older generations. This can come in different ways and forms, but one thing is clear, everyone has a role to play, and every action counts no matter how small. Start with whatever you have and remember while you do this, you are giving voice to the countless communities that otherwise do not have the same platform as you to advocate for climate justice.
In as much as numbers and statistics are important as represented by the IPCC Reports, it is crucial to contextualize these numbers using real life stories.
ELIZABETH ABATI
And to what extent, if at all, do you think the priorities of young African climate change activists differ from those of their international counterparts?
ABIGAEL KIMA
Different communities have different experiences and needs with regards to what climate change advocacy and negotiations should deliver for communities. Beyond the African continent, we have the Global South which covers Africa, Asia and Latin America and we have quite similar experiences of climate change impact. I would say in the fight for climate justice, a priority now for the Global South is the call for a loss and damage finance facility and the delivery of climate finance for adaptation and mitigation.
However, looking at counterparts in the Global North, I would say that just energy transition means a completely different thing for them compared to us in the Global South. I think it is very important to consider cultural differences and economical capacities when having conversations around just energy transition.
ELIZABETH ABATI
In general, what issues should be prioritized in climate change advocacy for Africa?
ABIGAEL KIMA
The issues that should be prioritized in climate change advocacy for Africa include: establishment of a loss and damage finance facility because some communities have gotten to a point where adaptation is not an option anymore; delivery of the $100 Billion for climate finance that was promised 13 years ago at COP15 in Copenhagen, since finance is the key recipe for any progress on adaptation and mitigation for African communities; and a clear pathway and financing for just energy transition in Africa because energy and development in Africa go hand in hand.
It is very important to consider cultural differences and economical capacities when having conversations around just energy transition.
ELIZABETH ABATI
Should we be focusing on regional climate change cooperation, advocacy and conferences instead? Would you say there is an African ‘outlook’ on climate change?
ABIGAEL KIMA
Through the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN), I would say Africans are doing their best to ensure they have a platform to exchange ideas and put out the issues that are most important for our communities. AGN advises the ministerial heads who spearhead negotiations at COP in a group called the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment that was established in December 1985. In addition, the AGN puts in consideration the collective views of African Civil Societies that work with different African communities with different experiences of climate change impacts helping to identify what issues are more urgent for the African continent. I would say there is definitely an African ‘outlook’ on climate change.
ELIZABETH ABATI
What do you hope to see achieved from COP27?
ABIGAEL KIMA
From an African perspective, I truly wish to see Africa well represented and our priorities acted upon.
ELIZABETH ABATI
Looking back one year after the COP27 conference, what would make you consider it a success?
ABIGAEL KIMA
Progress on the establishment of a loss and damage finance facility and a clear and bold commitment to phase out fossil fuel production for the biggest emitters⎈
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