As world leaders get ready to meet in Antalya, Türkiye, for the 31st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) is set to push for more climate funding. They want a big recharge of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) among other key issues.
The group stated that getting enough and steady climate funding, especially grants and concessional loans, is crucial for Africa's discussions at the conference.
Nana Antwi-Boasiako, the AGN Chair, shared this information during the pre-COP31 meetings on Friday.
The AGN is made up of climate negotiators from all 54 African countries at the UNFCCC and other international climate talks. Nigeria is in this group and will negotiate under its umbrella at COP31.
Nigeria’s team will be led by Omotenioye Majekodunmi, the Director General of the Nigeria Council on Climate Change.
In a speech shared on the AGN’s social media ahead of COP31, scheduled for 9 to 20 November, Mr Antwi-Boasiako said African nations will ask for stronger financial commitments to help reach their climate goals and adaptation plans.
He pointed out that Africa has made great strides in setting up the frameworks needed to implement the Paris Agreement, but lack of funding is still a major challenge.
He mentioned progress in creating Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), carbon market systems under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, National Adaptation Plans, and the Enhanced Transparency Framework.
But he noted that many developing countries struggle to meet their climate promises due to lack of funds.
"All these issues are structures that are going to support implementation. The key question now is: Where is the money? Where is the financial ambition to help us implement those commitments that we are making as developing countries?" the AGN chair said.
He said the group has put forward proposals to triple adaptation finance and recharge the Green Climate Fund, calling both essential for pushing climate action in Africa.
He explained that the aim of the adaptation finance agenda item is to clarify how to implement the agreement made at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, to triple adaptation finance.
The group also wants COP31 to support a strong recharge of the Green Climate Fund next year, saying it is very important for funding climate action in African nations.
COP31: From Words to Action
COP31 is expected to focus on turning climate promises into real actions, with special attention on implementation.
The summit will have a unique shared leadership, with Türkiye hosting while Australia leads negotiations. Its main slogan, "Where Dialogue Becomes Global Action", shows the drive to go beyond climate promises to real actions.
Apart from the agenda items, the African group wants to protect the current financial responsibilities of developed countries under the Paris Agreement.
Mr Antwi-Boasiako said Africa is not against adding more contributors to climate finance but insisted this should not weaken the responsibilities of developed countries.
Citing Article 9 of the Paris Agreement, he explained that Article 9.1 requires developed countries to provide financial support to developing countries, while Article 9.2 allows contributions from other capable nations.
He argued that developed nations should show leadership by meeting their current promises before asking others to contribute more.
"You cannot abandon your obligations and use something that is not an obligation to replace your obligation," he said.
Mr Antwi-Boasiako also mentioned that two policies were recently accepted at a Green Climate Fund Board meeting ahead of the fund’s next recharge. One is about grant-based contributions while the other is about broadening the contributor base.
The group hopes the recharge process will show leadership from developed nations before others are encouraged to give.
He pointed out that the disagreements over climate finance between developed and developing nations are a big political divide in the talks.
While developing nations want reliable, predictable, and increased grant-based funding, developed nations say geopolitical issues and local economic problems make it hard to boost financial support.
Mr Antwi-Boasiako questioned these reasons for funding limits, noting that developed nations have shown they can gather large resources when other issues, like energy security, are involved.
Africa Wants Fair Energy Transition
The African Group also wants progress on the Just Transition Mechanism, stressing that it must consider the continent’s development needs.
Mr Antwi-Boasiako said this mechanism should not just focus on energy but also look at workers’ welfare, managing natural resources, energy poverty, and wider economic impacts.
He warned against any approach that could harm African economies by forcing them to abandon resources still needed for development.
"For the African continent, we think that the transition away from fossil fuels must happen in a more equitable manner. We have a continent that has other challenges. And so we cannot allow our natural resources to be stranded when we need those resources to develop," he said.
He acknowledged that talks on moving away from fossil fuels are ongoing but noted that there is no formal agenda item directly addressing this.
The discussions are being guided by a roadmap created by the COP Presidency outside the formal negotiation process.
The AGN insists that countries with higher emissions and pollution should lead this transition before others follow.
Mr Antwi-Boasiako emphasized that this process must avoid hurting economies in developing nations.
"It is not just energy transition, but transitioning where we are able to make sure that our economies don’t suffer within the transition," he said.
Climate and Trade, Other Issues
The African group also wants talks on climate and trade, especially concerning unilateral trade actions that could hurt developing nations.
Mr Antwi-Boasiako said the group is working to get their proposed agenda item approved to allow discussions on the links between climate policies and global trade.
He also raised concerns about initiatives introduced under the COP Presidency’s action agenda without proper discussions with parties.
While the AGN does not oppose initiatives led by the presidency, he said such programs should not enter formal negotiation texts without proper discussions and party involvement.
The group also wants to boost the involvement of young Africans in climate talks through training programs to prepare the next generation of negotiators.
COP31 as a Base for COP32
The AGN sees COP31 as a key chance to strengthen Africa’s negotiating power ahead of COP32, which will be held in Ethiopia next year.
Mr Antwi-Boasiako mentioned that the group started pre-sessional meetings in Antalya on 1 November, followed by talks with national focal points and other African delegates.
They are also engaging with other groups within the Group of 77 and China to gain wider support for their proposed agenda items before the formal COP31 agenda is set for 9 November.
He said Africa’s negotiating strength depends not just on internal teamwork but also on building agreements with other developing countries.
The AGN chair highlighted the continent’s contributions to establishing the Green Climate Fund, the Loss and Damage Fund, and including adaptation measures in the Paris Agreement as signs of the group’s influence in global climate talks.
The group also called on civil society organizations and the media to help highlight Africa’s priorities during the conference.
Mr Antwi-Boasiako said the results of COP31 should lay a strong foundation for the continent as it gets ready to host the next climate conference.
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