President William Ruto has urged African leaders to present a united front at the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) later this year. He emphasized that Africa’s key agenda at the conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, should be advocating for a fair and equitable climate financing system. He noted that the new financing must address the urgency of the climate crisis and adequately meet the needs of Africa and other developing nations.
Speaking during an Extraordinary Meeting of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York, President Ruto, who chairs CAHOSCC, stressed the importance of increasing global investment in energy transition from the current 3% to better support climate adaptation.
"Today, we are aligning our position for COP29 in Baku this November. This meeting is a critical step in our preparations," he said. The event was also attended by African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat and Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, the chair of the African Union.
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President Ruto highlighted that significant investments in Africa’s resources—whether in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, green transport, or nature-based solutions—are crucial to ensuring effective climate adaptation. "These investments will facilitate low-carbon, climate-resilient development, not only for Africa but for the entire global community," he added.
He also called on African nations to advocate for debt sustainability and push for reforms in the international financial system to ensure climate justice. Ruto noted that as climate-related disasters become more frequent and severe, combined with the burden of high debt servicing, government spending on green resilience is becoming increasingly limited. He further pointed out that high interest rates and credit downgrades make refinancing even more challenging.
Earlier, President Ruto chaired the inaugural Steering Committee Meeting of the African Green Industrialisation Initiative (AGII), a platform that brings together African leaders and partners from the finance, industry, and philanthropic sectors.
The initiative aims to unlock investments for large-scale green industrial and infrastructure projects across Africa, driving economic transformation on the continent.
African Union Chairperson Moussa Faki echoed President Ruto’s sentiments, stressing that African leaders must present a unified stance at COP29, particularly on climate financing. He highlighted that some African countries have experienced GDP losses of up to 5% due to climate change, illustrating the gravity of the crisis.
