This week the Monitor reflects on what Africa would like to get out of COP26. We start with a piece by Saliem Fakir, the Executive Director of the African Climate Foundation. He argues that Africa should move away from a model of engagement on climate issues that has the tone of development assistance dependency. Africa should focus instead on integrating climate issues such as adaptation and mitigation into its economic growth and diversification strategies.
Dr. Rob Davis, a former South African Minister of Trade and Industry, argues that at COP26 Africa should insist on its right to become a producer of green technologies and products and not continue to be relegated to the role of being a mere consumer of goods produced elsewhere.
Dr. Lily Odarno, the Director of the Clean Air Task Force’s (CATF) Energy and Climate Innovation Program in Africa, argues that for Africa, COP26 cannot just be about the net-zero agenda. African countries are equally concerned about adaptation, climate finance and loss and damage.
We end with Dr. Nicholas Westcott, who is with the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy at the School for Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London. He shares five key messages for African governments to consider at COP26, or to act on at home.