Africa: Did the Africa Climate Summit Fulfil Its Vision?

A month on from the first ever Africa Climate Summit, a panel of experts reflect on its successes and failures.), held on 4-6 September in Nairobi, was full of mixed emotions and varied expectations. The best hope was that the ambitious meeting of minds from African governments, civil society and business would result in a unified pan-African agenda onthat would centre the continent and allow it to speak with a much louder voice in international discussions.

On a more positive note, the Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa launched at the summit, with Zimbabwe, Kenya, Ethiopia, Namibia, Rwanda and Sierra Leone on board. The partnership that also brings Denmark, Germany and the United Arab Emirates into the fold seeks to accelerate renewables on the continent through finance and technology transfer. If these commitments are followed through, this could illustrate the kind of strategic partnerships needed to transition towards renewables.

Brian Mukhaya is a Research Associate in Energy and Climate Innovation, Africa, at Clean Air Task Force.The African Climate Summit was quite a paradox. The least some of us expected from African political leaders was a determined stand for climate justice and the best interests of the continent. We expected them to reject carbon slavery and colonialism. We expected them to roll out a plan to power the continent with socialised renewable energy.

The African Climate Summit came at a time the world needs to be liberated from mechanics of climate bondage. Sadly we saw the trading of Africa on the ephemeral currencies of carbon bonds and other fictitious tools bound to accelerate the opening of the region for illicit financial extraction. They stayed in the valley while at the summit. It was a paradoxical moment.

Foremost, the discussions and the subsequent Nairobi Declaration centred on some dangerous distractions including carbon markets. These are, essentially,"polluter permits" that allow historical emitters to continue to poison the planet, with lives and livelihoods in vulnerable countries ruined as a result.

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