African Union chief calls for more 'climate justice' funds

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🗞️ Driving the news: The African Union (AU) has renewed its call for climate justice at its second continental climate summit, demanding significantly increased adaptation funding from industrialised nations
• In his opening address, AU Commission Chair Mahmoud Ali Youssouf stressed the need for financing, technology, and expertise to implement national adaptation plans, emphasising the disproportionate impact of climate change on Africa, which contributes just 4% of global emissions

🔭 The context: This year’s summit builds on the 2023 Nairobi Declaration, which urged wealthy countries to meet their climate finance pledges
• Despite longstanding promises, funding has remained inadequate
• A recent joint report by IGAD and Oxfam revealed that East African nations received only 4% of the adaptation finance needed to meet their climate targets over the past decade — a stark funding gap that continues to undermine resilience efforts across the continent.

🌍 Why it matters for the planet:
Africa is one of the regions most vulnerable to climate-related disasters, facing increasing droughts, floods, and displacement. Yet it receives a fraction of the global climate finance needed for adaptation. Without scaled-up, predictable support, climate impacts will deepen development challenges, accelerate migration, and exacerbate political instability — consequences with global implications. Delivering on climate finance is thus not only a moral imperative but a strategic necessity.

⏭️ What's next: The AU summit continues through Wednesday, with member states expected to push for a unified position ahead of COP30 in Brazil
• Key priorities include reforming global climate finance mechanisms, enhancing access to adaptation funds, and securing accountability from donor countries
• The outcome may shape Africa’s stance in future negotiations and pressure multilateral institutions to move from pledges to delivery

💬 One quote: “Rich polluting nations set the planet on fire, then sit back and send water droppers.” — Fati N’Zi-Hassane, Africa Director, Oxfam

📈 One stat: East African countries received just 4% of the financing needed to implement their national climate action plans between 2013 and 2022, according to Oxfam and IGAD

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