The Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) convened a pivotal webinar, “The Emission Gaps and the Road to COP29,” gathering environmental experts, activists, and legal advocates to examine the global climate policy landscape, the emissions gap, and demands for the upcoming COP29 conference. Discussions centered on the need for systemic reform and justice in addressing climate impacts on vulnerable communities.
Speakers reviewed the COP framework’s evolution, acknowledging achievements like the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement but critiquing COP’s reliance on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which remain voluntary and inadequate to prevent dangerous global temperature rise.
Ruth Nyambura, an ecofeminist from the Ramani Collective, stressed that the emissions gap mirrors broader injustices—including conflicts, economic inequality, and human rights abuses. She condemned the fossil fuel and military-industrial sectors for perpetuating environmental degradation and displacement, especially in Africa and the Global South. Nyambura called for a “decolonized” approach to climate policy, where resources directly benefit affected communities rather than powerful elites.
Economist Fadhel Kaboub, an advisor with PowerShift Africa, argued that Africa’s renewable energy potential is hindered by a lack of financial and technological support. He proposed that industrialized nations should finance “climate reparations” in grants rather than loans to foster Africa’s energy independence and food security.
Thuli Makama, a public interest attorney with Oil Change International, urged African leaders and civil society to reject fossil fuel expansion and resist corporate influence over climate narratives. She advocated for “counter-COP” platforms to discuss solutions rooted in community needs and environmental justice.
Nnimmo Bassey, HOMEF’s director, reinforced that fossil fuel interests remain overrepresented at COP, undermining accountability for the climate crisis. He called for a shift from market-driven solutions to policies prioritizing impacted communities.
As COP29 approaches, HOMEF’s webinar underscores a growing call for climate action grounded in justice, demanding that African leaders champion policies that address both immediate climate impacts and long-term sustainability in the Global South.
