Legislators Dialogue

 

DRIVING GREEN GROWTH & CLIMATE FINANCE SOLUTIONS FOR AFRICA AND THE WORLD: LEGISLATIVE PATHWAYS

 

04 & 06 SEPTEMBER, 2023, NAIROBI, KENYA

 

The 6th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicates that accelerating warming of the planet is now estimated to reach 1.5°C by 2030. In addition to these findings, the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) “Traffic Light Assessment” (TLA) report, provides that the targets set out in most nations’ NDCs are not sufficient to safeguard the 1.5°C goal, particularly in those countries who have long since exceeded their fair-share of the global carbon budget, when taking into account fairness considerations, including equity.

 

African countries are increasingly faced with accelerating impacts from the ongoing shift in global climate patterns. There has been increasing vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, with rising temperatures, frequent droughts, and inundating floods. African countries vulnerable to climate change are increasingly missing out on opportunities for greater energy independence as well as access to green investment and export opportunities. The continent urgently requires effective mechanisms and frameworks for responding to and influencing the climate change agenda nationally, regionally and internationally. A resolute response is called for, one that encompasses comprehensive approaches, incorporating the acceleration of adaptation through stronger international climate finance, widespread adoption of renewable energy sources, prioritizing energy efficiency, and fostering the development of sustainable energy infrastructure. To achieve these objectives, it is imperative to instate judicious policy interventions that expedite necessary reforms, bolster investments, drive decisive climate action, and ensure equitable access to efficient energy resources. In this multifaceted pursuit, Africa can pave the way toward a greener, more sustainable future.

 

BACKGROUND

​​The Africa Climate Summit is a high-level congregation of African heads of State and Governments focused on climate change, hosted by H.E. President William S. Ruto of Kenya, co-convened with the Global Center on Adaptation, and organised in collaboration with the African Union Commission and the African Development Bank. This significant event will be held in Nairobi from 4-6 September 2023, coinciding with this year’s Africa Climate Week, creating a powerful platform for collaboration and progress.^[1] During the in-person summit, six crucial thematic areas will be explored: climate finance, mitigation and green growth, climate adaptation and resilience, loss and damage, climate-vulnerable groups, and research innovation and technology. These focused discussions will pave the way for tangible solutions and actions.

During the Pan-African Parliament’s Summit on Climate Policy and Equity, H.E. President Ruto emphasised that the upcoming Africa Climate Summit is set to provide an opportunity to highlight and forge consensus on the modalities of unlocking Africa’s vast potential to positively impact the climate agenda and rally the world to tap the numerous opportunities that Africa presents towards global net-zero ambition. The role of parliaments and parliamentarians in this pursuit cannot be overstated.

Parliaments and Parliamentarians play crucial legislative, budget approval and oversight roles which are important in policy making and implementation and therefore ensuring government accountability and effectiveness. They also provide vital knowledge links with constituents which facilitates need-based and effective climate action. At the international scale, parliamentarians have the opportunity to work with their counterparts to build synergies and coordinated approaches at the international negotiation stage for the common regional interests. Despite this understanding, the role of Parliamentary institutions and Parliamentarians is yet to gain adequate traction and support in the climate negotiations and processes, especially for African countries. Indeed, according to an Africa All Party review, until recently, development partners have tended to focus exclusively on the executive branch of government, with limited involvement of Parliaments and Parliamentarians thus undermining their role, understanding and potential contribution to climate governance and processes.^[2]

PARLIAMENTARIANS DIALOGUE

To accomplish this critical objective, the proposition is made for a Parliamentarians Dialogue to be convened during the Summit. The Parliamentarians Dialogue will serve as a platform to interrogate the implementation pathways from the perspective of legislatures for the delivery of the commitments made during the Summit. Additionally the dialogue will provide a platform for legislators to deliberate on how they can collaborate with relevant stakeholders, e.g., local communities, industry representatives, and civil society organisations, to foster an inclusive and participatory energy transition; better understand the concrete benefits that renewable energy would have for communities in rural and urban settings i.e. decentralised renewable energy; and interrogate the fluctuating opposition to renewable energy in parliaments, media and the  public, why that is and how to address it.

The Summit will focus on delivering innovative green growth and climate finance solutions for Africa and the world.^[3] A central theme of the Summit is climate adaptation. There is an ever-present need to accelerate adaptation through stronger international climate finance for Africa. The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB), through the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP), are mobilising US$25 billion by 2025 for climate adaptation in the areas of food security, resilient infrastructure, climate finance, and youth employment. There is a need to promote the full realisation of the AAAP by reinforcing national adaptation priorities and mobilising additional resources to fund those national priorities. Climate Adaptation Country Compacts will be launched during the Leaders Dialogue on Adaptation Action. The main objective of the Climate Adaptation Country Compacts is to increase adaptation investments in Africa, in the current context of frequent and intense adverse impacts of climate change on national economies.

The ubiquitous adverse effects associated with the current agrifood production systems, climate change and conflicts call for urgent actions to reduce climate risks associated with consumption and

production patterns and ensure efficient use of resources in the preproduction, production, and value transformation stages of food chains. This entails designing appropriate, proportionate and fit-for-purpose interventions that are responsive to the challenges associated with increasing rural to urban forced displacement and migration, including refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) within

and across borders, in part fuelled by climate change impacts such as drought on natural resources dependent sectors such as agriculture. Evidence-based innovations focusing on climate action in the

realms of technology, finance, social and institutional structures are needed across agri-food systems, underpinned by enabling and aligned sector policies, and appropriate legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks that lower entry barriers and/or stimulate public and private investments in innovative and inclusive climate financing mechanisms.

It is imperative that legislative bodies across the breadth of the African continent empower themselves to ensure that the Summit outcomes transcend mere rhetoric and platitudes. Parliamentarians are bestowed with the responsibility to vigilantly oversee and ensure effective climate action across the entire continent. As such, the commitments made by the Executive during the high-level meeting must be treated with the utmost seriousness. The Parliamentarians Dialogue will therefore further contribute to the outcomes of the Accountability Summit at COP28 convened by the Climate Vulnerable Forum’s Global Parliamentary Group (CVF GPG), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) and the Global Renewables Congress (GRC) which emphasises parliamentarian’s role as beacons of accountability.

During this crucial gathering, parliamentarians shall receive, scrutinise, and engage in extensive debates to extract and refine strategies for robust parliamentary oversight and in the identification of capacity-building gaps that necessitate attention to achieve sustained and impactful climate action throughout the Continent. By doing so, the continent can demonstrate its resolve to effect meaningful change and fulfil its commitments to combat the pressing climate challenges facing our planet.

KEY INFORMATION

• Main objective: to convene leading African Parliamentarians responsible for Climate action in their respective parliaments to deliberate on the role of parliaments in achieving the outcomes of the Summit through a 3-session discussion:

Session 1 on Renewable Energy

• Discuss the manner in which renewable energy potential in Africa can be developed quickly and responsibly and how rural areas can benefit from decentralised renewable energy deployment.
• To identify the role of Legislators to drive the renewable energy transition and how they can effectively collaborate with relevant stakeholders, such as local communities, industry representatives, and civil society organisations, to foster an inclusive and participatory energy transition.
• To highlight the way in which renewable energy deployment can be accelerated in climate-vulnerable countries, including the policies and regulatory frameworks that are needed to be put in place.
• To highlight the action needed to achieve the global tripling of renewable electricity target by 2030, the implications for local economies and policy making.

Session 2 on Green Growth and Sustainable Production

• Provide a platform for stakeholder engagement on the theme “sustainable agriculture, land and water/ocean use” including climate related social vulnerabilities, with particular focus on transition to more sustainable food systems in Africa and climate security resilience.
• To discuss how the continent can achieve resilient, secure and nutritious food supply and increased value addition and diversification including adopting green technologies to meet the growing demands in the face of climate change.
• To identify the role, opportunities, policy incentives, and available financial mechanisms, including deployment of innovative financial tools, such as de-risking and investment cost reduction mechanisms, for private sector to increase investments that focus on climate change mitigation and contribute to a booming climate smart agri-food value chain.

 

Session 3 on Climate Action

• Identify areas for capacity-building of Parliamentarians in providing effective oversight for the implementation of the climate actions; and
• Build consensus on parliamentary actions at continental scale in championing the Summit outcomes towards COP28 and beyond.

• Outcome: The Dialogue will culminate in the adoption of a Parliamentarians statement at the Africa Climate Summit
• Participation: African Parliamentarians and partner organisations with a keen interest in the work of parliaments
• Format: Full day event
• Language: The Parliamentarians Dialogue will take place in English
• Date and Venue: 04 and 06 September 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya

 

 

PROGRAM OUTLINE 

 

Day 1: 04 September 2023

Venue: ACS Convention Center

Time	Activity	Panelists	Moderator
OPENING SESSION
14:30 – 14:35	Opening and welcome remarks	Hon. Moses Kajwang, Chair, Climate Committee of Senate of Kenya	Hon. Moses Kajwang, Chair, Climate Committee of Senate of Kenya
14:35 – 14:45 (5 minutes each)	High Level Opening Statement	Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Moses M. Wetang’ula, EGH, MP, Speaker of the National Assembly, Kenya   Rt. Hon. Amason Jeffah Kingi, EGH, MP, Speaker of the Senate, Kenya
14:45 – 15:00	Briefing on the Parliamentarians Statement at the Africa Climate Summit	Hon. Dr. Emmanuel Marfo, Chairman, Global Parliamentary Group of CVF/Chair, Environment Committee of Ghana’s Parliament
15:00 – 15:20	Discussion on the Parliamentarians Statement at the Africa Climate Summit	Hon Jaqueline Amongin, Uganda MP, APNCA   Hon. Dr. Emmanuel Marfo, Chairman, Global Parliamentary Group of CVF/Chair, Environment Committee of Ghana’s Parliament
15:20- 15:30	Closing Statement	Hon Charity Chepkwony Kathambi, MP, Chair Parliamentary Caucus on Conservation, National Assembly, Kenya

Day 2: 06 September 2023

Venue: Parliament of Kenya, National Assembly

 

Time	Activity	Panelists	Moderator
08:30 – 09:00	Registration	All	All
OPENING SESSION
09:00 – 09:10		Hon. Moses Kajwang, Chair, Climate Committee of Senate of Kenya	Hon. Moses Kajwang, Chair, Climate Committee of Senate of Kenya
09:10 – 09:50 (5 minutes each)	Keynote Addresses	–        Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Moses M. Wetang’ula, EGH, MP, Speaker of the National Assembly, Kenya –        Rt. Hon. Amason Jeffah Kingi, EGH, MP, Speaker of the Senate, Kenya –        Hon. Bärbel Höhn, Chair Global Renewables Congress, former MP of the German Bundestag and acting Commissioner for Energy Reform in Africa for the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development –        H.E. Francesco La Camera, Director General, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) –        Prof. Dr. Patrick Verkooijen, CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation –        Ban Ki-moon Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Global Center on Adaptation and 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations	Hon. Moses Kajwang, Chair, Climate Committee of Senate of Kenya
SESSION 1 Renewable Energy
09:50 – 10:50	Upscaling Regional and Local Renewable Energy Deployment	Opening Remarks Gauri Singh, Deputy Director-General, IRENA – international view incl. green deal for Africa Findings on the 2030 target – Why this target? What supports the aspiration? How can the UNFCCC process be useful? Framing with Bärbel Höhn, Chair Global Renewables Congress, German Hon Samuel Onuigbo, Nigeria – How would a target like this play out in Nigeria? Hon Jaqueline Amongin, Uganda – What would a target like this mean for Uganda? Hon. Kandeh Yumkella, Sierra Leone   Q&A	Moderator: Lena Dente, Senior Programme Manager, Energy and Just Transition, World Future Council
10:50 – 11:00	Coffee Break
SESSION 2 Green Growth and Sustainable Production
11:00 – 12:00	Sustainable use of Resources (Land, Water, Soil), Investment and Economic opportunities in the agricultural sector	1. Private sector 2. Council of Governors 3. UN Resident Coordinator 1.      Hon. Werani Chilenga, Malawi 2.      Hon. Nimat Mahamat Barka, Chad 3. Dr. Alexandros Makarigakis, Director and Representative a.i. UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa (Development Partner) 4. Dr. Robert Kibugi, University of Nairobi (Research) 5. CSA Start Up Kenya 6. Open Capital (Financial Advisory/Investment Firm in the agricultural business, amongst others)	Moderator Anja Berretta Director: Regional Programme Energy Security and Climate Change in Sub-Saharan Africa, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung
SESSION 3 Climate Action
12:00 – 13:00	Driving Green Growth & Climate Finance Solutions for Africa and The World   Presentation on Africa Adaptation Compacts   The role of Parliamentarians in Climate Action	Presentation Tony Nyong, AFDB, AAAP   GCA – Charles Nhemachena, Regional Director for Africa     Hon Dr Emmanuel Marfo, Chairman, CVF GPG/Chair, Environment Committee of Ghana’s Parliament	Moderator: Hon Dr Lawrence(Chair, Climate Change Committee, Uganda)
13:00 – 14:00	Lunch Break
14:00 – 14:30	Presentation on Nairobi Declaration (briefing)	Representative of African Union Commission	Hon Dr Emmanuel Marfo, Chairman, CVF GPG/Chair, Environment Committee of Ghana’s Parliament
14:30 – 15:30	Adoption of final text of the Parliamentarians Statement at the Africa Climate Summit and Statements from African Members of Parliament	Hon Dr Emmanuel Marfo, Chairman, CVF GPG/Chair, Environment Committee of Ghana’s Parliament	Hon Dr Emmanuel Marfo, Chairman, CVF GPG/Chair, Environment Committee of Ghana’s Parliament
15:30 – 16:00	Vote of Thanks from Partners and Close of Dialogue	Anja Casper Berretta Director: Regional Programme Energy Security and Climate Change in Sub-Saharan Africa, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung;   Rachel Mundilo CVF/GPG   Riccardo Toxiri, Programme Officer, IRENA   Lena Dente, Senior Programme Manager, Energy and Just Transition, World Future Council   Hon Jackie Amongin MP Uganda APNCA	Senator Moses Kajwang, MP, Chair, Parliamentary Caucus on Climate Change, Kenya Parliament
END

 

PARTNERS

• Climate Vulnerable Forum’s Global Parliamentary Group and the Global Center on Adaptation
• Konrad Adenauer Stiftung
• African Parliamentarians Network on Climate Action
• International Renewable Energy Agency
• Global Renewables Congress
• United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
• Parliament of Kenya

^[1] Africa Climate Week (ACW 2023) – Global Resilience Partnership

^[2] https://www.iied.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/migrate/G03027.pdf

^[3] Partners | Africa Climate Summit 2023: Driving Green Growth and Climate Action Finance for Africa and the World