GCA CEO’s Statement at the 18th Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment
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Excellencies, good morning.
What is good for Africa is good for the world. This has never been more true than with the climate crisis.
My name is Patrick Verkooijen and I am the CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA).
I was honored to be invited by his excellency Macky Sall, the President of Senegal and of the Africa Union, to address you this morning. President Macky Sall was in Rotterdam last week where the GCA is headquartered. And he was joined by President Akufo-Addo of Ghana, also the Climate Vulnerable Forum Chair – and by the Presidents of Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, who is hosting the pre-COP.
This was the Africa Adaptation Summit, and I am pleased to be able to report to you on its key outcomes as we look to COP27 – a matter of weeks away now. What was the Africa Adaptation Summit? An international, action-forcing, high-level dialogue jointly hosted by the African Union, the African Commission, the African Development Bank, the Africa Adaptation Initiative, and hosted at the GCA, which is the world’s largest floating office.
Over 70 leading figures of the international climate and development community: governments, mayors, youth, business, and international actors like the IMF chief, the World Bank the UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohamed.
What was on the table? Africa, adaptation and COP27.
What were the key messages coming out? 5 main points:
One: Africa is at a tipping point: climate crisis, pandemic recovery, and now Ukraine – the food and price crises.
Two: Africa is the most vulnerable continent: Why? Because the IPCC has said so. And you all are living the climate emergency.
Three: The doubling in adaptation finance – truly seeing its implementation.
Four: Capitalizing the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program – the $25 billion.
And five: Delivery of the AAAP Upstream Financing Facility – the delivery belt of adaptation mainstreaming in millions to leverage the billions – to shift the trillions. Now, we did have $55 million in new pledges under AAAP at the Summit. But it is by far not enough.
African leadership at the Summit was incredible.
President Macky Sall is the leader Africa needs for this COP. He is in fact the global leader the world needs right now. His vision for a resilient and emergent Africa is what adaptation is all about.
High-level representation from donor countries could have been stronger, as you might have heard. But this is a one-two program. The Adaptation Summit in Rotterdam was about putting priorities on the table. The COP is where we need to see results come through. Excellencies, Colleagues, What is clear is that this is Africa’s moment. The last Africa COP was over half a decade ago. You are not just Africa.
Because Africa – Senegal – is also chairing the Least Developed Countries Group and Ghana is leading the Climate Vulnerable Forum. This is already most of the parties. And what is crystal clear – What was the common message of African leaders last week? It’s that adaptation is the priority for Africa. And what does Africa need from the COP?
We’re inside a climate emergency already. Time for talk is over. The time for action has come. Time for delivery is here. Now’s the time to see concrete – on adaptation – on finance for adaptation – for Africa.
There are two ways to achieve this by COP: One, the Glasgow doubling pledge. Great development. This should help deliver the $100 billion for sure, but this is a separate and vital commitment. We need to have greater transparency on how the doubling will happen. Countries have been calling for a standalone implementation plan for that. I think this is something the African Group can build on.
Two, funding flowing into country programs on the ground. Now, there are many small-scale, piecemeal adaptation funds and projects around. Many of them are really valuable.
But there is a single, large-scale adaptation program, not just for Africa, but anywhere in the world. In 2015, Africa delivered the vision with the Africa Adaptation Initiative. And in 2021, Africa delivered the plan. This is the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program or AAAP. It is by far the world’s largest adaptation program with a 25 billion dollar ambition over five years. It has been proven to work. Since launching last year already $3 billion in projects have been delivered across 19 countries in Africa. Food security, rural livelihoods, digital solutions, nature-based infrastructure, and youth employment.
Adaptation is a growth agenda. It’s a jobs agenda. It’s a prosperity agenda. And when this is Africa’s moment, the scale has to be in the billions. I am extremely confident that if Africa is clear on its priorities in this respect, Africa will see results. There is real momentum around this. The African Development Bank already mobilized $12.5 billion, so we are halfway there. Now the Climate Action window of the Bank must have the outstanding replenishment pledges banked by COP27. And the AAAP Upstream Financing Facility also needs another $200 million banked by COP27. The GCA is proud to be a supporting partner to the AAAP and AAI – including through the AAAP Upstream Financing Facility.
Excellencies, Ministers, we are already working with many of you and I look forward to working more and more with every ministry in this room. As you are here today and tomorrow in the westernmost point of Africa, setting your COP27 priorities. Remember that: Adaptation is unstoppable. Even with the climate crisis: Africa is unstoppable.
I thank you.
