COP26: WHAT ABOUT AFRICA?

On climate talks, the African voice is hardly listened to. The only decision-makers are the powerful countries, the main emitters of carbon dioxide. This may be found to be reasonable, in the sense that it is up to those responsible for making the necessary arrangements to protect the environment. The fact is that Africa, which is hardly consulted on international climate issues, is nevertheless doubly involved.

First of all, Africa is the place in the world where global warming is felt the most, because of a poor, predominantly peasant and very agricultural population which suffers the full brunt of the negative effects of climate change. Also, Africa is the place where a massive and serious investment in the protection of green areas could achieve the best results for our future on the whole planet.

The COP 26 has set itself noble objectives in order to fight and prevent global warming on a planetary scale. This conference plans to talk about:

• Accelerate the output of coal

• Reduce deforestation

• Accelerate the switch to electric vehicles

• Encourage investments in renewable energies

All these provisions mainly concern only highly industrialized continents. Africa has hardly any charcoal, the greatest deforestation takes place in Latin America, in the Amazon rainforest. African roads and poor electrical infrastructure do not allow the popularization of electric vehicles on the continent. Renewable energies are too expensive for the vast majority of Africans. Following all these remarks, one cannot help but wonder in what context Africa can be involved in the resolutions of COP26.

First of all, from a global point of view, the decisions that will be taken at this climate conference will be decisive for the entire planet, and therefore will directly concern Africa. On the other hand, reducing deforestation aims to prevent the proliferation and expansion of drylands. In addition, the African equatorial forest is the second most important forest in the world after the Amazon. Reducing deforestation would therefore amount to preventing the deforestation of this forest shared between Cameroon, Gabon and Congo. Some initiatives have already been taken in this direction, even if they are still largely insufficient. In any case, it is very difficult to verify the facts, because of the weak government policy, and the widespread corruption which reigns in the countries concerned. What we can do, however, is make sure that the desert which is gaining ground in the south of the Sahara stops its progression, thanks to the Green Wall.

THE GREEN WALL OF THE SAHARA, URGENT AND ACHIEVABLE!

Africa is clearly not concerned with electric vehicles, at least not yet. As for renewable energies, such as solar and wind power, the prices of a simple solar panel are too high for residents, and wind infrastructure is not within the reach of African municipalities. This is where the Green Wall of the Sahara comes in. Why do you want to develop something else without already trying to protect what you have? The Sahara Green Wall is a large reforestation project in the arid areas of sub-Saharan Africa, which aims to prevent the advancement of the desert. This noble and very inexpensive project only requires willpower, but it remains achieved at only 15% in 2021 whereas it had started in 2008. The reasons are not all related to the lack of will, many regions concerned by the project have serious insecurity issues. Like Mali, Sudan and northern Nigeria. However, the safe countries that are part of the project are not really advanced. Only Senegal and Kenya have really made a difference, and the results are very encouraging. Even in risky places, some areas are safe enough to plant trees, but neither the authorities nor the civilians react, as the desert is clearly seen advancing day by day.

THE AFRICAN GREEN WALL ISSUE MUST BE DISCUSSED AT COP26

If Africa faces serious difficulties because of global warming, it is hardly responsible for it. According to Statista, in 2020 Africa emitted only 1,195 tonnes of carbon. That's half as much as Europe, eight times less than Asia-Pacific. Because of its geographical position, it is much hotter in Africa than in other continents. If nothing is done, the global temperature will rise, and it will be two degrees warmer in Africa than anywhere else. Current climate commitments lead to an increase of 2.7 ° C globally, but that will then be an increase to 5 ° C for Africa. Only forests can protect the people of Africa from the harmful effects of global warming. It is already encouraging to see that COP26 is planning $ 150 million for the Congo Basin. It would also be beneficial for everyone if the participants mentioned the issue of the Great Green Wall, so that on one side we do not lose what we are trying to gain on the other. The 8,000 kilometers of the Great Wall, which is expected to extend from Sierra Leone to Djibouti, must take shape, and the sooner the better. Polluting countries like China or the United States are unable to give up their economic progress in order to preserve the environment. And if we do nothing, Africa will pay the price.

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