NAIROBI, Dec 11 (IPS) – Regardless of combined reactions to the outcomes of COP29, Africa has the chance to take the lead in harnessing nature to deal with the results of local weather change and safe a resilient future.
As international locations craft local weather plans for tapping into the secured purpose of US$300 billion in carbon finance yearly by 2035, nature must be on the core. Integrating nature-based options into nationwide local weather methods will be certain that ecosystems thrive whereas contributing to financial and social resilience.
This advantages nature and communities, within the continent, and the remainder of the world. With its huge pure wealth, the rising appreciation of the intersection of local weather change, biodiversity loss, and improvement grants the continent the mantle.
Nature has the potential to contribute a couple of third of the cost-effective local weather options wanted to ship world local weather objectives.
This can allow the continent that’s at present among the many most susceptible to results of local weather change to successfully deal with impacts of local weather change and improve resilience.
From extended droughts within the Horn of Africa to catastrophic flooding in Southern Africa, communities are on the frontlines of local weather catastrophe but usually rely on wholesome ecosystems for his or her livelihoods and well-being.
Nature-based options can bridge the hole between conserving biodiversity and delivering local weather objectives. Reforestation, restoration of coastal wetlands and mangroves, coral reef safety, clear power technology and regenerative farming are all pathways for enhancing local weather resilience whereas bolstering meals safety, water availability, and financial improvement.
Africa can leapfrog to scrub power, as an example, decreasing emissions whereas increasing entry to reasonably priced electrical energy. Whereas components of the continent depend on fossil gas revenues, the financial and environmental advantages of accelerating adoption of renewables are clear.
It’s laudable that a number of African international locations have signed to the purpose of tripling renewable power by 2030, as a part of their nationwide local weather commitments.
For African nations, financing stays one of many largest hurdles for scaling these local weather actions. Closing the finance hole is crucial if we’re to achieve the formidable local weather targets for substantial allocations to nature-positive tasks and growing sustainable infrastructure.
African international locations can leverage progressive monetary devices, resembling inexperienced bonds and blended finance fashions, to unlock non-public sector funding in nature-based options. By doing so, we are able to drive financial development whereas defending our pure heritage.
Carbon markets current a major alternative. With out defending and restoring nature at scale, it’s unimaginable to satisfy world local weather objectives.
These pure property retailer carbon, present livelihoods for tens of millions of individuals, and might channel income from world markets into native conservation and improvement initiatives.
Pure local weather options, like reforestation, stopping deforestation, and enhancing administration of grasslands, represent nearly 50 per cent of at present’s provide of carbon credit, with a lot room for development.
The newly secured consensus at COP29 is anticipated to totally unleash the monetary and nature-positive energy of well-regulated carbon markets by defending Africa’s carbon-rich ecosystems.
There’s a clear path ahead for others to emulate from pioneering efforts like Gabon’s progressive monetary transaction, within the type of a blue bond to refinance US$500 million of its nationwide debt and generate as much as US$163 million in new funding for ocean conservation.
The continent has the chance to make nature a foundational pillar in all local weather adaptation and mitigation methods. Investments in ecosystem restoration and sustainable land use may help safeguard rural communities from excessive climate occasions, cut back the dangers of climate-induced displacement, and shield important ecosystems that underpin Africa’s financial system.
Essentially, the purpose should be selling evidence-based options that resolve actual local weather challenges whereas decreasing emissions, supporting native organizations and grassroots advocacy, and elevating native consciousness to create higher understanding of sustainability practices.
The way forward for Africa’s improvement is tied to how its pure sources are managed within the face of local weather change. Given its plentiful pure sources, Africa requires the mandatory investments in its power sector simply serving as a template for profitable clear power.
The continent holds the options the world wants, from wealthy biodiversity to huge renewable power potential. It’s time to harness these strengths, guaranteeing that nature is on the coronary heart of local weather methods. By doing so, we are able to safe a future the place Africa not solely survives however thrives.
The author is the Regional Managing Director, Africa at The Nature Conservancy.
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