Climate goals should not stunt Africa's growth

Developing countries are bemoaning the heavy burden of reaching climate goals as pressure mounts in the lead-up to the next Conference of the Parties (COP28) that will be held in Dubai in December.

- Lindi Botha

During COP26 in 2021, developed nations pledged to provide an annual amount of US$100 billion (nearly R2 billion) to developing nations to assist them in reaching climate goals. The money has yet to change hands, however.

In response to calls for the world to meet carbon emission reduction goals ahead of COP28, the president of the African Development Bank Group (AFDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, said that Africa was being shortchanged in climate financing.

In a press release issued after the AFDB annual general meeting held in Egypt in May, Adesina projected that Africa would need around US$2,7 trillion (R53 trillion) by 2030 if the continent were to properly finance its climate change needs.