
The Commonwealth has revealed plans to support vulnerable communities in member countries to access climate finance and address climate change issues.
The Commonwealth is committed to “supporting and fast-tracking NDC implementation in vulnerable member countries by way of enhanced access to climate finance,” according to climate change adviser at the Commonwealth, Uzoamaka Nwamarah.
Ms Nwamarah said this would be done through the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) – a long-term goal set by countries to stop climate change.
To achieve these goals, Ms Nwamarah said the Commonwealth secretariat remains committed to “supporting and fast-tracking NDC implementation in vulnerable member countries by way of enhanced access to climate finance.”
The secretariat is one of the Africa NDC Hub partners, operates a Climate Finance Access Hub, and with national climate advisers in five African countries.
Launched in 2017 at the Africa Day of the 23rd United Nations Framework on Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP23) in Bonn, Germany, the Africa NDC Hub is a collaborative platform to support African countries achieve their NDCs.
Officer-In-Charge of Climate Change and Green Growth at the African Development Bank, Al Hamndou Dorsouma, said the bank will support regional countries in this regard.
Mr Dorsouma made the statement in Glasgow during a launch of the Africa NDC Hub report.
Also, Seychelles Finance Minister, Naadir Hassan, said “Africa is well-positioned for climate action following the revision of NDCs,” pointing to the IPCC report’s projection.
Speaking at the event, Mr Hassan said the report estimates that the world could reach global warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels as early as 2030.
Peoples Gazette learned that about 53 Africa countries, including Nigeria, have submitted their NDCs.
This story was originally published by Peoples Gazette on November 8, 2021. It was produced as part of the 2021 Climate Change Media Partnership, a journalism fellowship organized by Internews' Earth Journalism Network and the Stanley Center for Peace and Security.