By Florence Gichoya

The ACCESS Coalition’s regional nodes convened a pre-COP 29 webinar on Climate Finance and Just Transition. Representatives from the ACCESS Secretariat, Action 24, Kenya Climate Change Working Group (KCCWG), and Strategic Youth Network for Development (SYND) shared insights on expectations for the 29th session of the Conference of Parties (COP29) under the United Nations Framework for Climate Change (UNFCCC). The annual summit took place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11 to 22 November 2024.

The objective of the webinar was to facilitate dialogue on climate finance opportunities for a just transition in the Global South.

John Kioli, KCCWG Chairman, shared his opening remarks and said, “Just transition is about moving to a low-carbon economy that is fair, leaving no one behind, and ensuring sustainable livelihoods.” He noted at COP 29, African countries would be advocating for full implementation of the $100 billion climate finance pledge under article 9 of the Paris Agreement. This will help secure funds for both adaptation and mitigation efforts.

Patricia Mbogo, ACCESS Coalition’s International Coordinator, called on developed countries to deliver on their promises by advocating for a transition to renewable energy sources and increasing investments to energy transition, especially to countries severely affected by climate change.

Jacob Olonde, CEO, ECAS Institute, shared on the role of the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) in Advancing Africa’s Just Transition. He noted the NCQG on climate finance has emerged as a promising framework designed to address the financial needs of developing countries in their fight against climate change. He said, “reaching agreement on the NCQG at COP 29 would be crucial in unlocking more ambitious climate action.

The final NCQG needs to have an ambitious and deliverable financial commitment. It should include clear rules defining who will contribute, for what purpose, over what timeframe, and how progress will be monitored.

During the webinar, the participants gained a clearer understanding of the challenges of access to climate finance in the Global South. The ACCESS regional nodes developed a set of recommendations that highlighted how global climate finance flows can better support a just transition in vulnerable regions.