This year’s annual climate talks in Egypt have the potential to allow Africa to be at the forefront of the international climate change negotiations. COP27, dubbed the African COP, is an opportunity to see key African issues receive the necessary attention.  

Given Africa’s vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, COP27’s timing allows Africa to take the lead and work towards action. The African Climate Foundation (ACF) views the talks, set to begin next week, as a critical platform to shift the narrative of the climate transition in Africa – from one of risk to a constructive narrative around opportunities.   

#TheCOPWeNeed

For the last few months, the ACF’s ambition has been to strengthen and support efforts towards the development of Africa’s decarbonisation and climate resilience pathways as part of unlocking Africa’s economic transformation and long-term inclusive growth and development. In the lead up to COP27, the ACF not only supported the COP27 Presidency in Egypt but has also worked with a range of climate crisis organisations. Together with these organisations, as well as African experts from across the spectrum, the ACF has amplified the dialogue around the slogan #TheCOPWeNeed.  

With COP27 starting in less than a week’s time, the ACF is geared to further raise this narrative through numerous co-hosted side events taking place at and alongside COP27.  

COP27 Side Events  

As one of the official sponsors of the COP27 South Africa Pavilion, the Foundation has a prime position to spark critical discussions. In partnership with South Africa’s Presidential Climate Commission the foundation will host four side events. The ACF’s work in South Africa has focused on supporting an ecosystem working on South Africa’s Just Energy Transition (JET) and Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). The JETP and the lessons it provides for other countries will be a key feature of several events at COP27.   

In addition to supporting the South Africa’s pavilion, the ACF is also listed as one of the official sponsors of the Africa Pavilion. To explore philanthropic support on the continent, the foundation will join forces with Bloomberg Philanthropies, IRENA and UNECA. This collaboration will place the spotlight on philanthropic support as a catalyst for scaling clean energy access and investments in resilience in Africa. View event.

Apart from this, the ACF will bolster other African countries such as Senegal at their convenings. Senegal is seen as one the pivot countries that the ACF conducts its operations in. The Senegal Pavilion will be a hub where ACF bands together with esteemed partners on side events that will deliver insight into the West African region’s energy transition.    

And finally, Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) which calls for “affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all” by 2030, also has its own pavilion at the talks. Here the ACF will host two co-convenings:  

First, a panel discussion titled Financing Just Transitions: A South-South Dialogue will delve into how energy transitions in developed countries could be adequately and fairly funded. The event will take place in partnership with GEAPP and Rockefeller Foundation. Following this, a second side event will explore the future of the renewable energy rollout in Africa. This is held in partnership with ClimateWorks Foundation, World Resource Institute and CREIA, on Enabling the Scaling Up of Renewable Energy in Africa.
 
To promote open dialogue and frank discussion all the events are open to all COP27 delegates. Keep an eye the ACF team at COP27, for additional participation in several other convenings with key partners alongside COP27.

Amplifying African Narratives

Quality climate journalism is critical to ensure Africa’s climate stories are told by Africans and delivered to its people and international platforms. To help tell the story of the climate crisis through African eyes, the ACF is drawing attention to its media partners who they believe drive the African voice. These include Africa No Filter, Children’s Radio Foundation, Africa Climate Wire and The Continent.  

The Foundation is also set to deliver its own news and analysis on key highlights and takeaways, publishing daily on the ACF website and social media platforms.

Details of the abovementioned convenings are also included in the ACF’s COP27 mailer, available here.

Communications Coordinator for the ACF is on hand to provide further information or facilitate interview requests. Email [email protected]