A sudden flurry of activity as Jagadish Vasudev, known widely as Sadhguru, emerges from an interview room in the COP29 media centre. It’s early days of the conference and there is energy and excitement at the venue in Baku. With his long flowing beard and blue turban, it’s clear that many journalists are keen to interview […]

By Isaiah Esipisu
BAKU, Nov 16 2024 – African environmental activists at the ongoing climate summit (COP29) in Baku have called on climate financiers to stop suffocating poor countries with unbearable loans in the name of financing climate adaptation and mitigation on the continent.

Just a few months ago, a wave of protests by young people rocked the East and West African regions, protesting against exorbitant taxes that were being imposed on them for the governments to raise extra finances to service foreign loans.

“We reject loans or any type of debt instrument for a continent that had no role in warming this planet; we indeed refuse to borrow from the arsonists to put out fire they lit to burn our livelihoods,” said Dr. Mithika Mwenda, the Executive Director at the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA).

According to PACJA, between 70 and 80 percent of all the finances from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to African countries come in the form of loans, through intermediaries, and by the end of the day, only some lucky climate-burdening communities can access the money—estimated at about 10 percent of the total funds disbursed.

Dr. Mithika Mwenda during Africa Day at COP29. Credit: Isaiah Esipisu/IPS

“We demand these finances be directed first and foremost toward those who are most exposed to climate risks and least able to adapt, said Mwenda. “This means moving beyond fragmented and delayed funding and toward a reliable, affordable, accessible and timely flow of finance (in the form of grants) that reflects the actual scale of the crisis,” he said during Africa Day, an annual event organized by the African Development Bank on the sidelines of COP29.

Several examples mitigation and adaptation loans were touted during the event which would mean that African taxpayers would be required to repay loans of more than USD 1.6 billion.

“Some of these projects do not have footprints of the target communities in terms of prioritization,” said Charles Mwangi, a Nairobi-based climate activist.

“Communities need to take lead in decision-making and framing of these projects,” he said, noting that most of the finances are lost in expensive air tickets for consultants who are based abroad, hotel expenses and allowances.

On the contrary, Kenya is piloting a program known as ‘Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA).’ A 5-year initiative jointly supported by the Government of Kenya, the World Bank and other donors aimed at delivering locally led climate resilience actions and strengthening county and national governments’ capacity to manage climate risk.

“We are advocating for such policies that position adaptation at the forefront, not as an afterthought,” said Mwenda. “We amplify the voices of local organizations and grassroots leaders in these discussions, so global commitments reflect the priorities on the ground,” he said.

At COP29, discussions on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) offer a critical moment to reshape global financing in a way activists believe will truly address Africa’s needs.

“It is essential that adaptation finance be needs-based, mobilized from public finances in the Global North, and be grant-based, with resources that consider the private sector as a third or fourth solution and not the first solution,” said Mwenda.

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By Aishwarya Bajpai
BAKU, Nov 16 2024 – The irony is that at forums like COP29, dubbed the finance COP, rich countries often behave as though they can sidestep their financial obligations, Yamide Dagnet, Senior Vice President, International at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), says.

Yamide gave IPS an exclusive interview in which she shared her wisdom on the so-called finance clubs, the Loss and Damage Fund, the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) and COP29’s focus on advancing climate finance.

Reflecting on her recent experience at COP16, Dagnet recalled, “I attended the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Cali, Columbia for the first time. While there were breakthroughs for local communities and businesses, the process ultimately ended in disarray, particularly regarding finance.”

She criticized the lack of accountability from developed countries, stating, “In these forums, developed countries often behave as if they can sidestep their financial obligations. But that can’t continue. We must keep engaging and pushing for accountability.”

Addressing the influence of the recent U.S. elections, Dagnet remarked, “The elections overshadowed everything. Many developed countries feel overwhelmed, fearing they’ll need to cover for the U.S., which has historically fallen short on its commitments and is now attempting a comeback. The ambition of their public commitments remains disappointingly low.”

On the broader challenge of climate finance, she added, “Reaching USD 100 trillion in finance will require an enormous effort. What’s being proposed now simply doesn’t match the scale of the crisis.”

She explained that compared to a year or even a few months ago, many of the most vulnerable countries are focused on ensuring that funding is allocated fairly.

Yamide Dagnet, Senior Vice President, International at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

Questions remain about how much will go to the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), small island states, and Africa. There’s still a push to direct at least half of the funds toward mitigation efforts. Accessibility and transparency in allocation are critical.

“This isn’t charity,” she emphasizes. “It’s about investment. The cost of inaction and non-investment far outweighs the investment required to address these issues effectively.”

Further addressing carbon credits, Dagnet remarked, “While there have been changes, transformations, and innovations—mainly driven by developed countries—carbon credits can play a role but shouldn’t be overestimated. There’s been a lot of unrealistic expectations about their potential, with talk of billions in funding. But then what? We need to approach this carefully and get it right.”

Dagnet emphasized the need for environmental integrity and equity to be central to climate initiatives, stating, “For these systems to be robust and equitable, environmental integrity must be at their core. Without it, there won’t be a fair distribution of benefits, especially for those who need it the most.”

She pointed to the negotiations around Article 6.2, noting, “While a common market can offer opportunities, there’s clear evidence of how things can go wrong. Every effort must be made to ensure it works effectively and fairly.”

Reflecting on the human cost of climate inaction, Dagnet shared, “I often think about Mozambique. They face adverse conditions year after year, leaving communities in a constant state of crisis. They can’t rebuild schools properly and live in tents for years, with their livelihoods repeatedly destroyed. Is this the future we want to accept?”

On the Loss and Damage Fund, Dagnet emphasized the importance of viewing finance as a means to an end rather than the end itself.

“What we see in Mozambique is a clear result of losses and damages. Following the breakthrough of establishing a Loss and Damage Fund, the priority is to ensure it is regularly replenished. While last year’s pledges reached about USD 700 million, it’s far from enough to provide adequate support.”

She highlighted the multifaceted nature of addressing loss and damage: “There’s a need to mitigate damages, adapt to extreme conditions like heat, and address the limits of adaptation. For example, with sea level rise, adaptation can only go so far before people are forced to migrate. These costs—tangible like relocation expenses or intangible like cultural and psychological impacts—must be addressed through diverse support mechanisms.”

Dagnet stressed the need for grant-based solutions designed with input from local communities.

“Solutions must not be purely top-down. Discussions within the Loss and Damage Fund should ensure funds reach frontline communities. However, some countries resist this approach, preferring centralized control, while local communities and civil society know they need direct access to funds.”

Innovative mechanisms for community benefit-sharing are crucial: “Big corporations, including pharmaceutical and tech companies, often use data from local communities without adequate compensation. Implementing a levy on such data usage could create a fund to benefit these communities. A percentage of profits derived from local knowledge should return to those communities, ensuring they see tangible benefits from their contributions.”

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By Umar Manzoor Shah
BAKU, Nov 16 2024 – Plan International, a global leader in advocating for children’s rights and gender equality, sees the need for women and Indigenous people to be at the forefront of climate negotiations.

Founded in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War, Plan International has spent over eight decades working to improve the lives of children in some of the world’s most underprivileged regions. While its initial focus was on broader child welfare, the organization has, over the last ten years, shifted its attention toward empowering girls, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. This strategic pivot has an understanding that girls often face compounded barriers to education, health, and economic opportunities, especially in remote and conflict-prone areas.

Today, Plan International, says Soumya Guha, the Global Director of Programs, operates in 52 countries, supported by fundraising activities across 22 locations. Its programs target the most marginalized communities, focusing on holistic, long-term development alongside emergency humanitarian responses. This dual approach has allowed the organization to integrate its development goals with pressing needs, such as disaster resilience and conflict mitigation.

“We believe the first five years of a child’s life are critical in shaping their future,” Guha said. The organization’s “I Am Ready” program, implemented in countries like Laos, Tanzania, and Cambodia, addresses linguistic and social barriers faced by children from marginalized groups. By offering a ten-week intensive program that prepares children for primary school in their local language, the initiative has led to a remarkable 37 percent improvement in school attendance and retention rates.

In earthquake-prone areas, the organization has introduced disaster preparedness programs that equip schools to respond effectively during emergencies. “In the Kathmandu earthquake, schools participating in our safety programs were able to evacuate quickly, saving lives,” Guha said.

Beyond education, Plan International emphasizes sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), ensuring that young people have access to critical information and resources. Programs that support economic empowerment, such as initiatives involving school feeding programs, complement these efforts. In Sierra Leone, for instance, women’s cooperatives not only supply food for schools but also reinvest their earnings to establish educational facilities in underserved areas. This approach has created a ripple effect, fostering gender equality, boosting local economies, and enhancing educational outcomes.

Recognizing the disproportionate impact of climate change on marginalized communities, the organization integrates climate adaptation strategies into its education and health programs. In Asia, combating child marriage and addressing climate vulnerabilities are emerging priorities. “Child marriage is a persistent issue in Asia, and we are determined to tackle it alongside climate change challenges,” Guha said.

He added that operating in regions affected by conflict and disasters requires a nuanced approach. In Ethiopia’s Tigray region, where prolonged conflict has displaced thousands, Plan International works with local organizations to provide immediate relief while also supporting host communities. This dual focus aims to ease tensions and promote peacebuilding. Similar strategies have been employed in Bangladesh during the Rohingya refugee crisis, where the organization ensured that support extended to both displaced populations and the local communities hosting them.

“Technology plays an increasingly important role in Plan International’s programs, particularly in remote and resource-poor areas. In Sierra Leone, for example, a digital platform called Televret enables real-time feedback on the quality of school meals, ensuring accountability and timely action. In Ethiopia, augmented reality tools are being piloted to support children with learning disabilities by making educational content more accessible and engaging,” Guha said.

The organization plans to continue its focus on early childhood development, education, economic empowerment, and climate resilience. While its geographic priorities remain centered on Africa and Asia, it will also maintain a presence in South America, addressing deep-seated inequities that persist despite overall economic progress in the region.

Guha stressed the importance of international cooperation at COP29, particularly in climate finance. The organization advocates for ambitious funding targets, stating that developed nations should bear a significant share of the responsibility. “The most marginalized communities, including women and indigenous populations, must be at the forefront of climate finance allocations,” said.

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By Umar Manzoor Shah
BAKU, Nov 16 2024 – As COP29 negotiations continue in Baku, agricultural leaders are pitching the need for climate-resilient and data-driven solutions to support marginalized farmers and low-income communities.

In an exclusive interview with Inter Press Service (IPS), Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director of the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers (CGIAR), discusses the impact of digital tools, precision agriculture, and low-emission food systems on achieving a sustainable and equitable food future. 

Inter Press Service: How helpful are digital tools in supporting marginalized farmers?

Ismahane Elouafi: Digital tools offer immense potential, especially in bridging the knowledge gap between agricultural experts and rural farmers who often lack access to information. Over the past few decades, funding for traditional extension services has dwindled, so digital solutions in local languages can fill this void. Imagine a farmer receiving real-time advice on managing water, soil fertility, or disease in a language they understand—this could revolutionize small-scale farming. Additionally, precision agriculture, which tailors input needs to specific locations and soil compositions, allows for highly customized farming strategies that optimize both resources and yields.

IPS: Can you explain how precision agriculture works in practical terms?

Elouafi: Precision agriculture allows us to deliver exact inputs—water, nutrients, or fertilizers—needed for a specific plot. This approach minimizes waste and environmental impact, and it’s especially useful in regions where resources are scarce. For instance, if a plant needs 20 milliliters of water in one square meter but only 10 milliliters a few kilometers away, precision agriculture ensures we don’t overuse resources. Ultimately, the goal is to increase productivity sustainably, producing more output per hectare with fewer inputs, especially in a time where climate pressures demand we be mindful of environmental impacts.

IPS: How essential is biodiversity to resilient farming systems?

Elouafi: Resilience means that after a shock—a drought, flood, or even conflict—farmers can bounce back and continue production. CGIAR’s focus is to provide tools, technology, and genetic resources that make this possible. We’ve developed rice varieties that survive flooding and maize that tolerates drought, helping farmers maintain productivity despite climatic stressors. Another key factor is small-scale irrigation, which allows farmers to respond to drought by providing supplemental water, ensuring resilience and food security.

IPS: You mentioned low-emission food systems. How can agriculture contribute to climate goals?

Elouafi: Agriculture is responsible for about 33 percent of global greenhouse gases. By shifting to low-emission practices, we can greatly reduce methane and other emissions. For example, traditional rice paddies release large amounts of methane. However, alternative wetting and drying practices can cut methane emissions by 30 percent while boosting productivity by 33 percent. In livestock, using specific forages and studying animal gut microbiomes can reduce methane emissions by up to 60 percent. Agriculture is uniquely positioned to sequester carbon through practices like cover cropping and biodiversity, which is crucial in mitigating climate change.

IPS: Could internet and data use enhance climate security?

Elouafi: Absolutely. Digital access and internet coverage in rural areas can provide timely climate information, like rainfall predictions, which empowers farmers to make better planting decisions. With projects like Elon Musk’s nanosatellite network expanding internet access, marginalized farmers can increasingly leverage climate data. CGIAR also focuses on producing accurate data for the Global South, as existing climate models often rely on data from the Global North, which doesn’t reflect realities in places like Sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia. Our data can inform region-specific, actionable climate strategies.

IPS: How does CGIAR support innovations and resilience in vulnerable regions?

Elouafi: CGIAR operates the largest publicly funded international agricultural research network, with a strong focus on least-income countries. Our goal is to close the yield gap between high- and low-income nations by providing bundles of innovations: drought-resistant varieties, small-scale irrigation, processing improvements, and access to markets. By helping farmers integrate these innovations, we ensure they’re more resilient and have a steady income. Additionally, our research helps policymakers design better frameworks to support smallholders and incentivize sustainable agri-food systems.

IPS: What do you hope COP29 will achieve in advancing agricultural and climate agendas?

Elouafi: COP29 must carry forward the momentum from COP28, where the UAE’s Declaration on Sustainable Agri-Food Systems was endorsed by 160 countries. Agriculture, food, and water systems need to be central to climate discussions. As we look to COP30 in Brazil, with its expertise in regenerative and climate-smart agriculture, I hope we continue viewing agriculture not as part of the climate problem but as an essential solution to it. Climate adaptation in agriculture is non-negotiable—lives and livelihoods depend on it.

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By Joyce Chimbi
BAKU, Nov 16 2024 – Life in remote, marginal areas, drylands and deserts is increasingly becoming difficult because rural people are in the crosshairs of an unprecedented climate onslaught. A substantial number of lives and livelihoods are on the line, as nearly half of the world’s population, 3.3 billion, lives in rural areas and 90 percent of them are in developing countries.

For many of them, agriculture is their lifeline and yet, there are increasingly limited tools and resources to build climate resilience. Dr. Alvaro Lario, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and UN Water Chair, spoke to IPS about the urgent need for an ambitious climate adaptation goal and focus on how the poorest, who are being more impacted by climate change, can benefit.

“Most of the heads of state I speak to, especially in Africa, are very much focusing on how they can support their rural areas with many of the extreme weather events they experience, whether it is floods, droughts or extreme heat. That goes even beyond agriculture,” Lario observed.

“Climate adaptation, especially for rural people, is at the centre of our work. We believe it should also be at the centre of the discussions at COP29. We must unlock the finance and solutions to support rural women and men to adapt to extreme weather events. At COP we talk a lot about mitigation and what is needed in terms of the technology and the energy transition, but less about adaptation.”

Lario further stressed the need for discussions on envisioned goals in terms of “climate adaptation and also, more importantly, how that trickles down to the small-scale farmers and the rural areas. During COP, strong announcements were made, in particular an announcement of increased investments in climate finance by multilateral development banks.  We need to see how this will be implemented. IFAD has committed to investing 45 percent of our Program of Loans and Grants over the next three years into climate finance, and that mostly means adaptation.”

IFAD President Dr. Alvaro Lario. Credit: IPS

Lario is a seasoned international development finance leader. He received a PhD in Financial Economics from the Complutense University of Madrid after completing a Master of Research in Economics at the London Business School and a Master of Finance from Princeton University. Under his stewardship, IFAD became the first United Nations Fund to enter the capital markets and obtain a credit rating, enabling the IFAD to expand resource mobilization efforts to the private sector.

On progress towards achieving COP29 top priorities, the IFAD President observed, “We only have a first draft of the negotiation and there is reference to adaptation. However, it is only the preliminary stage, so our ask is to ensure that we have a finance goal for adaptation, not just the overall goal for climate finance in general. We also need to start discussing what the financial vehicles should be and the instruments to mobilize the private sector.”

“We need to ensure the right structures or platforms that allow the private sector to come in are in place. At IFAD, we have been putting together a number of these structures, for example, with local financial institutions and with carbon credits, to attract private sector money into projects that benefit rural farmers.

Throughout his participation at Baku COP29, Lario has reiterated the need to send out a clear message that if there is going to be a successful energy and sustainable food systems transition, individual communities need to reap and feel the benefits. Emphasising that climate adaptation investments are not a sunk cost as they save lives, support livelihoods, and are key to addressing inequality.

According to UN statistics, as of 2022, four out of five people lacking at least basic drinking water services lived in rural areas. As Chair of UN Water, he has, in tandem, emphasized that extreme heat and too much or too little water are threatening the livelihoods of small-scale food producers who supply over a third of the world’s food.

Lario, for instance, says that a historic drought in Brazil has impacted coffee production. In Ghana, erratic rains cut cocoa production by half. And in Southern Africa, maize harvests are well below average due to an historic dry spell.

Stressing that “in many commodities and crops, this is also impacting food prices. Food inflation across developed and developing economies will always adversely impact those communities with lower incomes who are less resilient.

“So here in Baku, as world leaders work toward new climate finance goals, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is advocating for a truly ambitious commitment to support small-scale farmers. Investing in food producers’ resilience is not only the right thing to do—it’s an investment with a business and social return,” Lario emphasized.

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