Since Monday, Nairobi has been hosting delegates and representatives from all over the world to discuss the weather. Who knew that talking about the weather would one day pay off for Kenyans who have a penchant for talking about the happenings of the atmosphere as an icebreaker to any conversation? But I digress.
As much as I sympathise with our President’s desire for a Pan-Africanist approach towards tackling complex concepts like loss and compensation, deep inside I am certain that nothing much will be achieved after the three days.
I understand that it is meant to be a build-up to the next COP meeting later this year in the Emirates, however, nothing much will happen. Most African heads of state are grappling with difficult economic conditions if not the looming threat of wayward generals playing musical chairs with their “hard-earned power” in absentia for them to be bothered with attending the meeting in chilly Nairobi weather.
I recall the climate summit in the sands of Egypt that was hyped by renowned Swedish activist Greta Thunberg only for it to end with much said but very little done. Truth be told, we have been witness to all these COP summits but have realised very little in terms of results, especially for the global south who are apparently feeling the full force of climate change.
I think the climate discussion should be an economic discussion towards climate adoption and not sympathy aid given to the afflicted nations as the industrialised world continues to belch out more toxic fumes in the hope that Rwanda plants more trees and Brazil keeps its hands off the Amazon.
What I want most is that once these three days are over, Africa has a solid stand in Dubai and rejects being belly-rubbed by the industrial powers with talks of more funds for loss and compensation instead of a centralised discussion around the formalisation of carbon markets.
Carbon markets should compensate in ways that will motivate governments in the global south to not only have an edge in adaptation but also flexibility when it comes to exploiting fossil fuels for development, energy and industrialisation.
In summary, as an African, I do not desire to walk over to the next COP with the same empty bowl crying 'some more, please'. I want us to go there for better prices in carbon markets, and if not we reserve the right as a continent to use our fossil fuels to industrialise as the rest of the world did.
Political analyst
