Financing Climate Change Adaptation : Africa’s Youth Converge On Cameroonian Capital For Action

The first ever Youth Forum on (Climate Change) Adaptation Finance in Africa, YOFAFA, which runs from November 16-18, 2023 in the Cameroonian capital, Yaounde, is co-organised by the Cameroon government. The Africa Coalition for Sustainable Energy and Access, ACSEA, and the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance, PACJA. ACSEA is a network of civil society orgnisations, private sector actors and academia, working to promote clean energy solutions and climate resilience across the continent.

Unique Opportunity
Dr Augustine B. Njamnshi, the Executive Director of the Africa Coalition for Sustainable Energy and Access addressed a press briefing in Yaounde on Tuesday, November 14, 2023 to announce preparations and the stakes of the international forum. He said the gathering was a unique opportunity for young Africans to raise their voices and demand more action and support for climate change adaptation, which he described as “one of the most urgent issues of our time.”

It Threatens Us All  
“…. Africa is facing a climate crisis that is not of its own making. Our countries put together contribute less than 4 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, but it is one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change impacts. Climate change threatens our livelihoods, food security, health, peace and stability. It exacerbates existing inequalities and injustices. It undermines our development aspirations and human rights,” Dr Njamnshi noted.

Urgent Imperative
“…..adaptation is an urgent imperative for the continent because we are already experiencing severe impacts of climate change. This needs money, which has to come from the countries with historical responsibilities for climate change,” Dr Njamnshi pointed out.

Huge Needs, Little Support  
Citing the latest Adaptation Gap Report published by United Nations Environment, UNEP, Dr Njamnshi said the adaptation finance needs of developing countries were 10-18 times as big as international public finance flows. “This is 50 per cent higher than the previous range estimate. …. the adaptation finance needed to implement domestic adaptation priorities is estimated at 387 billion US Dollars per year,” he dsiclosed.

We Can’t Wait!
Despite these needs, public multilateral and bilateral adaptation finance flows to developing countries declined by 15 per cent in 2021, Dr Njamnshi noted with regret. “We cannot afford to wait any longer. We need to act now and scale up adaptation efforts at all levels. Young people are not only the most affected by climate change, but also the most innovative and creative in finding solutions. ...