During the UNFCCC’s Second Climate Week (CW2) and the Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) that was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Dan Loschpe, Climate High-Level Champion for COP30 and a top business leader from Brazil’s automotive industry, with experience in decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors had a chance to chat with Henry Neondo, a journalist.
What role do Africa’s Climate Summits play in shaping the continent’s climate transition?
As we approach the Brazil’s Climate Conference (COP30), Africa stands on the front line of climate action. This week, the UNFCCC’s Second Climate Week (CW2) and the Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) in Addis Ababa showcased how governments, businesses, communities, and innovators across the continent are coming together to drive change, calling for action on every front: energy transitions, food systems, resilient cities, nature-based solutions, among others.
This is the moment for Africa to accelerate its social and economic development sustainably.
What is the COP30 Action Agenda and how does the current COP Presidency plan to ensure this year is about delivery on climate action?
The COP30 Action Agenda brings together non-state and sub-national actors like businesses, investors, cities and civil society to work along with governments under the Paris Agreement.
For years, climate summits have been defined by negotiations. But as we look ahead to COP30, these climate summits as Africa have shown us again, the focus is on implementing solutions: from decentralised solar powering homes, to re-greened landscapes, to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) scaling innovations that create jobs and resilience.
These solutions are rooted in local realities but are globally relevant. Now it is fundamental to integrate them with global finance and trade systems.
How is the COP30 Action Agenda structured to deliver impact?
The COP30 Action Agenda is structured around six thematic axes and 30 key objectives, from tripling renewable energy capacity and regenerating ecosystems, to building resilient cities and accelerating access to finance.
It is the platform where policy meets practice. This is how we can focus on accelerating solutions that are already working on the ground.
I’m here in Ethiopia with my colleague Nigar Arpadarai, Climate High-Level Champion for COP29, working with African leaders to boost climate action. We have the tools and we need to work together.
How can we triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency by 2030?
There are four priorities: Scale up renewable generation, upgrade grids, develop storage and enhance efficiency on the demand side. From this energy platform, countries can improve value chains and promote development.
Reducing the cost of capital through clear public-private interaction and policy guidance will support investment in these solutions. Collaboration through the Action Agenda’s Activation Groups is essential to make this happen.
Halting and reversing deforestation is a major goal. What are your thoughts on achieving this by 2030?
Protecting and restoring forests is critical. Africa hosts some of the world’s most important ecosystems and African farmers are showing that restoring degraded land can be profitable and productive.
That’s why the Global Stocktake and COP30 aim to accelerate proven and new financial solutions to halt and reverse deforestation and degradation of areas.
Farmers are demonstrating that restoring degraded pastureland can be more productive and profitable than moving into forested areas.
It’s time for us to share these solutions that are working.
For example, the Brazilian Government, in close collaboration with other countries, is leading the creation of the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF). The TFFF is an innovative mechanism to provide long-term, results-based payments to tropical forest countries for keeping their standing forests through conservation and restoration.
Using a blended finance structure that leverages both public and private capital, the TFFF aims to achieve a target capital base of USD$125 billion incentivising long-term forest conservation at scale.
How can business leaders work with governments to drive systemic transformations in finance, policy, and markets?
Climate action is the defining business opportunity of our time. African business leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs have the knowledge, networks, and projects to deliver results at scale.
During the innovation labs this past week, we saw real-life examples.
This is the moment for business leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs to lead on climate action.
We need their projects, their know-how on the ground, at scale, to deliver results for people, economies and the ecosystems we all depend on.
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