By Arnold Ageta
African non-state actors, represented by the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) , have issued an urgent press release at the COP30 negotiations in Belém, Brazil , expressing deep alarm over the lack of progress on financing the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA).
They assert that the ongoing discussions are characterized by an “unfair game” that threatens to shift the burden of climate adaptation financing onto African nations.
African actors came to COP30 with the hope of securing the means for implementation of adaptation programs, precisely climate finance for the GGA. However, the current state of the talks has been branded as disappointing.
“Unfortunately, in the current state, securing the much-needed climate finance for adaptation is not only a distant away, but a mirage!” the PACJA statement declares.
The Alliance alleges that developed country parties are employing “machinations to rewrite the Paris Agreement” by attempting to shift the obligations for financing the adaptation agenda to those “least responsible for the climate crisis, and those with the least capability to finance adaptation”.
A core concern is the perceived abandonment of the Paris Agreement principle on Common but Differentiated Responsibilities based on Respective Capabilities.
According to PACJA, this foundational principle “is being thrown to the dogs,” and in its place, “Africa is being requested to demonstrate its contribution towards funding adaptation”.
Specific indicators being discussed have raised red flags, as they are seen to effectively transfer the financial burden to developing countries.
The Alliance is disturbed by indicators such as “proportion of government budget allocated to climate adaptation and resilience” and “annual adaptation finance expenditure”, which effectively transfer the burden of financing adaptation to developing countries.
PACJA insists that financing adaptation cannot be optional or “charity”.
As the negotiations enter their crucial final week , a key frustration is the failure to finalize the indicator list on the means of implementation, with “no indicators on finance yet on the table”.
“For UNFCCC COP30, the horse has to lead the cart – in this case, climate finance”, the Alliance stressed.
They argue that it is “mere rhetoric to discuss indicators of GGA, without the requisite means of implementation”.
Furthermore, the lack of ambitious financial support undermines the call for ambitious adaptation action : “We cannot strive to measure the results of an action that is not funded”. They also noted that some proposed indicators focus on “superficial outputs rather than measuring transformative and tangible results/ adaptation outcomes”.
The PACJA has called for immediate action to rectify these issues , urging the COP30 Presidency to take personal leadership and influence on the global community to ensure GGA indicators are complete with means of implementation.
The Alliance takes note of other pertinent issues that should be at the focus of expedited closure.
The Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) framework must include strong and measurable indicators on the Means of Implementation (MoI), as determining factors for accountability and alignment with Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement.
These indicators should comprehensively assess both action and support provided to developing countries, measuring access to, quality of, and the scale of adaptation finance in line with the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities.
Additionally, PACJA calls to mainstream the global reform agenda into adaptation, ensuring appropriate reforms in finance, debt, taxation and trade to afford vulnerable states and their citizens the fiscal space necessary to implement adaptation efforts.
They also demand that parties defer the adoption of the GGA indicators for further in-depth discussions, refinement, and utilise the opportunity provided by COP30 to take note of the work and progress that has gone into the development of these indicators.
A deeper introspection of the policy implications of the GGA indicators is important, ensuring that there are no substantial policy shift expectations for Africa.
“The grandstanding on climate finance, which is an essential ingredient in the implementation of the adaptation agenda, cannot go unchallenged”, PACJA asserts, insisting that COP must maintain its fidelity to parties’ commitments.
They urge parties at COP30 to pay more attention to the amount of international public finance provided by developed countries to developing countries to implement the GGA, including its targets.
