By Albert Oppong-Ansah
Accra, Aug. 10, GNA – African climate negotiators are meeting in Accra to consolidate the continent’s priorities and strategies ahead of COP31 in Antalya, Turkey.
The meeting, under Ghana’s chairmanship of the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) for 2026–2027, would review outcomes from the 64th session of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies (SB64) held in Bonn, Germany, from June 8 to 18, 2026.
The engagement is expected to strengthen Africa’s common negotiating position.
Discussions would focus on key issues including climate finance, adaptation, just transition, technology transfer, mitigation, agriculture and food security, transparency and implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
The meeting would also consider emerging issues with implications for Africa’s development, including climate and health, climate mobility, trade and climate-related trade measures, critical minerals and industrial transformation.
A report on the AGN’s participation at SB64 identified stronger coordination as necessary to advance Africa’s interests at COP31, ahead of the continent’s hosting of the global climate conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2027.
The engagement would begin with a Just Transition Technical Workshop on the continent’s transition to low-carbon development in the context of sustainable development, followed by the strategy meeting.
The discussions are expected to strengthen political unity and technical coordination among African countries as climate negotiations increasingly focus on implementation of the Paris Agreement.
The Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) will be a major focus, with African countries seeking stronger commitments and resources to enable vulnerable countries to build resilience against climate change impacts.
Climate finance would also feature prominently, particularly efforts to secure accessible, predictable and grant-based financing for developing countries and advance implementation of Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement, which places financial obligations on developed countries.
The AGN would also examine strategies to strengthen National Adaptation Plans, the Adaptation Fund, and technology development and transfer to support Africa’s climate and development priorities.
The AGN report further identified increased African participation in UNFCCC constituted bodies and expert groups as a priority, alongside stronger collaboration among African research institutions to provide scientific and technical evidence for negotiations.
The AGN, which has existed for about 30 years, coordinates a common African position on key climate agenda items and advocates for the continent’s interests in climate justice and implementation.
The Accra meeting is expected to help align Africa’s political, technical and diplomatic strategies ahead of COP31 and subsequent climate negotiations.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: Albert Oppong-Ansah
Email: [email protected]