Author: Thandolwethu Dlamini

Africa accounts for less than 4% of the global total of carbon emissions yet Africa is more vulnerable to the effects of climate change than any other region in the world according to climate specialist, Richard Washington. The dependence of a lot of African societies on the climate system especially for rainfall for crop production is one of the reasons why Africa is exposed. I can personally attest to this fact as I have witnessed some of these changes over the course of my life. As a child, I dreaded the summer season, not for any other reason other than laziness to plow the multiple acres of fields where my family grew Maize. I never quite fully understood the importance of this activity to our sustenance back then and over the years never understood why we eventually had to stop growing our own maize due to dwindling annual returns. It is until recently as a college student that I connected the dots between climate change and my family’s discontinuing to grow our own crops. It also pains me to know that a lot of subsistence farmers and families will continue to suffer at the hand of climate change due to lack of knowledge and understanding of what climate change is and its effects.

Furthermore, Africa is vulnerable because there are a lot of surprises in store for us concerning extreme weather events due to the fact that the African climate system is controlled by an extremely complex mix of large-scale weather systems which are extremely understudied in comparison to other regions of the world. Cyclone Idai and Cyclone Kenneth which devastatingly hit southeast Africa early this year are testaments of the impending extreme weather wreckage on the African continent. Catastrophic flooding from the two storms affected close to 2.2 million people in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi. In addition, a lot of countries in Africa lack the capacity to adapt to climate change. To give some context, Africa has a total of 54 countries and of these, 33 are classified as least developed countries according to the UN.

The above paragraphs were intended to give context to the reasons why responsiveness to climate change is very important to me as a young African and why like the UN Secretary-General, I am disappointed with the results of COP25. According to one of Africa’s Lead negotiators, Mr. Tosi Mpanu Mpanu, Africa’s agenda for COP25 was rooted in Africa’s need for means of implementation. Africa needs to receive financial resources, technology transfer and capacity building in addition to the recognition of the loss and damage many countries on the continent have suffered as a consequence of climate change. During COP 25 I participated in the negotiations pertaining to technology transfer as I firmly believe in the power of innovation and technology to foster the building of advanced and resilient African societies. However, it was disappointing to see little progress on these agenda items at COP25.

Finally, as I wrote this blog, I was reminded of the story of William Kamkwaba a Malawian young man from the book and movie “The Boy who Harnessed the Wind”. William’s story of how he taught himself how to build a windmill which eventually served the dual purpose of providing light for his family and powering a well water pump. The ability to harness the wind’s energy through technology to draw water from the ground enabled his family to continue to grow crops amidst a devastating drought. As an African Youth, William’s story inspires me to believe in the immense possibilities that innovation and technology have for Africa. I believe in the power that we African youth have, and I am hopeful that we will turn this situation around to work in our favor.

I spent the week following the negotiations on technology transfer on behalf of the Eswatini delegation and for this blog post, I have summarized what the main technology transfer negotiation agenda items were. Technology transfer was part of three agenda items in which Kenya was representing the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) hence the interests of Eswatini. The priorities of the African Group on these agenda items include ensuring that all African LDCs receive support from the Technology Mechanism to conduct Technology Needs Assessment (TNA) by the end of the current reporting period. Furthermore, it is of particular interest for the AGN and other developing countries to ensure that the CTCN has sustained financial resources and capacity to support the implementation of proposed projects. Beyond the negotiations, it is imperative that African countries do their part through enacting appropriate policies and accountability measures so that they can attract GEF support in the next round of financing.

The technology transfer agenda items being negotiated were:

SBSTA 51 agenda item 5, joint annual report of the Technology Executive Committee (TEC) and the Climate Technology Center Network (CTCN)

The joint annual report of the TEC and CTCN was welcomed and the progress of the two bodies in facilitating the effective implementation of the technology mechanism was appreciated. Also, reports of the activities of both bodies throughout 2019 were welcomed. Contents of the draft text of conclusions by SBSTA addressing the need to enhance climate technology development and transfer to support the implementation of the Paris Agreement are still being negotiated.

SBI agenda 13 b, Alignment between the review of the CTCN and the Periodic assessment referred to in paragraph 69 of the PA agreement

SBI initiated its consideration of the alignment between processes pertaining to the review of the (CTCN) and the Periodic Assessment of the effectiveness and adequacy of support provided to the Technology Mechanism in supporting the implementation of the Paris Agreement on matters relating to technology development and transfer. The SBI requested the secretariat to prepare an information note on possible options, and their implications, for aligning processes about the independent review of the CTCN and the Periodic Assessment of the Technology Mechanism for consideration at SBI 52.

SBI agenda 13c Poznan strategic program (PSP) on technology transfer

The PSP was created in 2007 by the COP for the GEF to scale up the level of investment for technology transfer. The program has supported countries to undertake technology needs assessments (TNAs), develop technology pilot projects and implement hundreds of climate projects with objectives related to climate technologies. The contents of the draft text of conclusions are still being negotiated.

As a believer in the promise that technology has to offer concerning climate action, taking part in the negotiations broadened my perspective about the complexities involved in ensuring the equitable transfer of technology to developing nations. In addition to attending negotiations about technology transfer, I also participated in side-events that addressed innovation, technology development and financing NDCs in developing countries. Effective collaboration between representatives from different countries within the same region or negotiation block was inspiring. The way the negotiators bolstered each other’s proposals invoked in me a wish to see this kind of coordination beyond the COP.

Furthermore, my first COP experience has enlightened me about the need for developing countries, particularly African countries to foster innovation locally and regionally for simultaneous sustainable economic development and climate action. I am more aware of the importance and need for strategic collaboration between developing countries to take advantage of economic opportunities that emerge due to climate change. I believe that as African’s we need to embrace a path to development not identical to that of the developed countries and for this to happen, we need to foster the creation of innovative business cases for climate action. Finally, we need more youth involvement, more innovation, and more strategic regional collaboration.

I could not help the imposter syndrome that overwhelmed me as the dates of COP 25 drew closer. I was feeling jejune regarding issues of climate policy or any public policy issue having never taken a public policy course ever in my life until this summer. My application to this practicum was very ambitious and the entire semester felt like I was overcompensating for all the knowledge and understanding I lacked regarding the issues we discussed. For the most part, the focus of my academic career has been in forging technical skills that would enable me to make an impact in my community andn in similar communities. I was so engrossed in prioritizing technology transfer to communities like my own through being an expert in energy technology development such that the relevance of good policy for the causes I cared about did not cross my mind. However, I witnessed the need for effective energy policies recently while working for a startup company seeking to expand clean electricity access to rural communities of Lesotho, one of the LDCs according to the UNFCCC.

My time working in the energy access sector in Southern Africa helped me resolve to learn as much as I could about the world of public policy when I returned to Duke. Over the past semester, as we prepared for COP 25, my focus and attention was largely on the underdogs, LDCs that often cannot be held accountable for historic emissions, yet are most adversely affected by climate change. Regardless of who should be held responsible for climate change, I also do believe in the Paris Agreements’, (PA) call for every country to contribute through NDCs. So far, I have seen enthusiasm and ambition from a number of the LDC Parties however, this ambition is most often met by insufficient financing as well as meagre internal capacity to implement, measure and report. Consequently, I will spend a considerable time during COP 25 focusing on issues around Article 9 of the PA as well as all things energy related.

My excitement for the week ahead is unparalleled. I am motivated by other young people who will be there with me who are determined to take our future in to our own hands and lobby for those in power to protect it for us and for future generations. I am excited to see how developed country Parties will demonstrate increased ambition and the commitments that they will be willing to make as well as the respective contributions that they will submit to the table. I am excited to be part of the COP where Article 6 of the PA may be ironed out. I am excited and looking forward to having a renewed sense of direction and ambition after COP25. My hope is that imposter syndrome will hold me back from immersing myself fully in this experience. I am excited to learn as much as I can from my fellow classmates as well as from all those attending COP 25.