Background

Climate finance is undoubtedly one of Africa’s most significant challenges. The region faces a huge financing gap, particularly adaptation financing. This year's COP Presidency aims to focus on implementing existing programmes. Accordingly, the topic of climate financing will occupy the central stage, as there has been a wide gap between pledges and implementation for years. Of the US$ 100 billion pledged annually by the industrialised nations to support low emitting countries, only US$ 83 billion flowed in 2020. It is estimated that Africa needs US$250 billion annually in conditional and unconditional financing between 2020 and 2030 to implement its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Climate Agreement. Regrettably, COP26 ended with no major breakthrough on this issue.

Going into COP27, Africa’s needs vis-à-vis the current climate finance mechanism and architecture – as well as their alignment with realities in African countries – need to be made clear. To this end, APRI undertook a study to explore the systems that underpin public climate finance delivery and implementation in South Africa, Ghana, and Zambia. The project analysed the practical experiences and challenges state and non-state actors encounter in accessing and administering climate finance. The new report from this project provides empirical evidence to support Africa's negotiating positions around climate finance and opportunities and pathways to solutions.

The Launch

Within the above context, APRI seeks to convene a report launch to disseminate findings from Zambia. Zambia continues to be adversely impacted by climate change. Sectors such as agriculture, energy and tourism remain vulnerable to climate shocks. Financing to address the climate needs in these and other sectors is paramount. More importantly, Zambia requires financing to ensure the successful implementation of the NDC. Stakeholders who play a pivotal role in climate finance in Zambia were extensively consulted on the climate finance landscape, including the emerging trends. The launch will provide a platform for stakeholders to discuss the study's findings.

Programme