African climate negotiators are being urged to shift emphasis from long-held negotiation positions to practical, financed climate solutions that can deliver measurable impact for communities across the continent.
The call was made as African representatives refine their collective strategy ahead of the Subsidiary Body meeting (SB64) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), scheduled in Nairobi, Kenya.
Antwi Boasiako Amoah, who also serves as Ghana’s Director of Climate Vulnerability and Adaptation, said Africa must now prioritise implementation over position-taking.
“Africa must move from position to power. The challenge is no longer about negotiation strength, but about translating agreements into financed and implemented outcomes that improve lives,” he said.
He made the remarks at a pre-meeting held ahead of SB64, following a high-level strategic session in Accra aimed at strengthening Africa’s unified stance on global climate negotiations.
The discussions are part of ongoing efforts by the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) to consolidate regional positions and ensure they align with practical development priorities, including food security, gender inclusion and climate finance.
Key issues raised during the meeting included the implementation of outcomes from recent global climate talks, particularly the Conference of the Parties, where the Belém Gender Action Plan was adopted to guide gender-responsive climate action.
Participants also reviewed progress under the Sharm el Sheikh Joint Work on Agriculture, highlighting the urgent need to strengthen Africa’s food systems and protect livelihoods vulnerable to climate change.
Dr. Amoah stressed the importance of coordinated action across sectors, noting that climate issues such as agriculture, finance, gender, and just transition cannot be addressed in isolation.
“There are no separate conversations. Implementation requires coherence across all sectors,” he said.
A major concern raised at the meeting was climate finance, with negotiators calling for stronger African coordination to close the gap between global commitments and actual funding flows to developing countries.
Dr. Amoah added that Africa has a growing opportunity to shape global climate governance, particularly as the continent prepares to host COP32.
He said Africa’s position in the negotiations should reflect not only its vulnerabilities but also its leadership role in defining what effective climate action looks like in practice.
The pre-SB64 meeting is expected to conclude with a consolidated African position supported by technical analysis, as negotiators prepare for engagement with the wider international community.
