Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire – In a speech delivered today at the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), made a significant announcement regarding the participation of observer organizations from the Global South at the upcoming COP29. Stiell emphasized the need for greater representation from nations most affected by climate change, stating, “We’ve also taken steps this year to boost the proportion of observer organizations at COP from the Global South, following the guidance from Parties at the June Meetings this year.”
This move has been met with praise, especially from climate advocates in the Global South. Mohamed Adow, Director of the Nairobi-based think tank Power Shift Africa, voiced his support, saying, “For too long the COP summits have been largely full of delegates from the Global North. It’s an example of how too much power at the climate talks has been held by people and organizations based in countries that have caused the climate crisis. Finally, we are getting a fairer distribution of observer badges. It’s only right that people from countries that are most vulnerable to the climate crisis are able to attend the meetings that are supposed to address their needs.”
A report from Power Shift Africa highlighted the disparity in previous COP summits, revealing that during COP28, 50% of observer badges went to participants from the Western European and Other States (WEOG) bloc, which includes countries like the USA, Canada, and Australia. This bloc, representing just 12% of the global population, has a disproportionately large presence at climate talks, despite contributing significantly to the climate crisis.
Adow emphasized the need for change, saying, “People in parts of the developing world only contribute a fraction of the emissions causing the climate crisis yet disproportionately suffer its impacts. Yet for too long the vast majority of COP badges have been held by people from a small part of the world but with disproportionately high emissions. It is only right that this imbalance is now being rectified.”
In addition to addressing observer representation, Stiell pointed out the economic potential of climate action for African nations. He remarked, “Climate action is the single greatest economic opportunity of this century. The opportunity is immense. But so too are the costs for African nations of unchecked global heating.”
Adow echoed this sentiment, expressing optimism about the future, “It’s encouraging to hear Simon Stiell spelling out the huge opportunities posed by tackling the scourge of climate change, transitioning the world to clean energy, and lifting millions of climate-vulnerable people out of poverty.”
As COP29 approaches, these commitments to greater inclusion and recognizing the economic potential of climate solutions signal a shift in how global climate talks may unfold, giving a stronger voice to those most affected by the climate crisis.
