Nzovu hopes COP28 would give Africa legitimate right to develop and achieve sustainable development goals

Government hopes the Conference of all Parties (COP 28) would recognise the legitimate right of African countries like Zambia to develop and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

Minister of Green Economy and Environment, Collins Nzovu, said Africa expects an outcome that was grounded in the findings from the technical dialogue.

Nzovu said this during a Ministerial round table on the Global Stocktake (GST) at the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya.

He said Africa hoped the outcome would provide clear guidance on how to collectively align with just and equitable pathways towards achieving 1.5C without overshoot.

“The COP28 outcome must be comprehensive and balanced, and reflect equity/fairness; recognise the legitimate right of African countries to achieve the sustainable development goals by 2030,” Nzovu said.

He hopes COP28 would deliver on adaptation, as Africa looks forward to the successful conclusion of the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) with clear adaptation targets.

Nzovu said this should include indicators to facilitate adaptation action and increase the ability of parties to adapt to adverse impacts of climate change.

He emphasized the need for developed countries to utilize scientific data and close the pre-2020 Gap in order to strengthen their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees.

“On mitigation aspects of the decision, our ability to exploit our natural resources and endowment to finance SDGs must be safeguarded,” Nzovu said.

He also highlighted the importance of shifting subsidies from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

Additionally, Nzovu expressed gratitude for the just transition pathways work programme, seeing it as a valuable tool for global climate action and sustainable development, speaking on behalf of the African Group.

“Ministers should focus on unlocking the political issues to help the technical negotiations and advance ministerial engagement on the political issues,which will facilitate an ambitious and successful outcome,” he said.

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