At COP28 in Dubai, Egypt is leading Africa’s charge for climate justice, demanding wealthy nations pay $300 billion annually to compensate for climate damages. With Africa contributing 4% of global emissions but suffering 80% of climate costs, this summit could redefine global equity—or repeat decades of broken promises.
Africa’s Climate Paradox
- Egypt’s Vulnerabilities:
- Nile Delta: Rising seas threaten 40 million livelihoods.
- Agriculture: Staple crop yields could drop 20% by 2050 (IPCC AR6, 2023).
- Case Study: Mozambique: Cyclone Freddy displaced 1.5 million people in 2023, but only < 10million of a 200 million aid request was delivered (UN OCHA, 2023).
Egypt’s COP28 Demands
- Binding Payments: Require wealthy nations to contribute 0.5% of GDP annually to a loss-and-damage fund.
- Debt Relief: Cancel loans for countries spending > 20% of budgets on climate adaptation.
Challenges at COP28
- Resistance from Wealthy Nations: The EU and US oppose binding payments, citing “economic impracticality.”
- Lack of Transparency: No mechanism tracks fund distribution to grassroots projects.
Grassroots Movements
- #PayUpForClimate: A pan-African campaign with 1 million signatures demanding reparations.
Expert Quote:
“Africa isn’t begging for charity—we’re demanding reparations for decades of exploitation. COP28 is our courtroom.”
— Dr. Fatima Ahmed, African Climate Justice Initiative
