What: African Development Bank Group to participate in COP29
Who: Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, President of the Africa Development Bank Group, Bank senior management team, sector directors and managers
When: 11-22 November 2024
Where: Baku Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan
African Development Bank Group President Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina will lead a delegation to this year's UN Climate Change Conference, COP29, in Baku, Azerbaijan. Along with global leaders, he will amplify Africa's priorities on climate change.
COP29 will focus on advancing Paris Agreement goals and efforts to curb global warming and adapt to climate change impacts. Dubbed 'the Finance COP,' this year's conference aims to scale up climate financing and set new goals for future climate finance to support lower-income countries in transitioning to zero carbon economies and helping the most affected communities adapt to climate change.
As an accredited observer of the Intergovernmental Organization, the African Development Bank actively supports the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process, advocating for stronger climate finance and action.
The conference expects 40,000 to 50,000 participants, including heads of state, industry leaders, policymakers, development financiers, private sector business leaders, academics, and youth and civil society.
As in previous years, the African Development Bank will play a pivotal role in shaping climate action outcomes, particularly for Africa, by participating in key global events and hosting side events to further promote Africa's interests.
Highlights of the Bank's activities in Baku include a summit on Measuring the Green Wealth of African Nations on Thursday, 14 November, featuring African heads of state, ministers, experts, and global development financiers. The Bank will also host an event to rally support for Mission 300, a collaborative initiative with the World Bank Group to connect 300 million people in Africa to electricity.
The Bank provides crucial technical expertise, knowledge products, and financial support to the African Group of Negotiators (AGN), ensuring Africa's specific needs and circumstances are well-represented in mitigation, adaptation, and climate finance discussions.
Despite being highly vulnerable to climate change, Africa currently receives only 3-4 percent of global climate finance. At COP29, the Bank will push for an increase in climate finance for Africa.
COP29 provides a platform for the Bank to showcase Africa's climate solutions. Through flagship initiatives like Desert to Power, the Africa NDC Hub, and Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation, the Bank demonstrates Africa's commitment to meeting climate goals.
The Bank and African regional organizations will jointly host the Africa Pavilion to provide a platform and voice for Africa's effective participation. It is also a venue for networking among member state officials and participants from policy, science, and practice communities.
Dr. Adesina will also hold bilateral meetings with key partners, donors, African member countries, and other stakeholders to strengthen partnerships, generate knowledge, mobilize resources, and advance climate-related projects across Africa.
Activities of the Bank Group will be livestreamed on the Bank's COP29 microsite and other dedicated channels, including social media.
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