BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 18. Baku Initiative Group held a conference on decolonization and a green future within the framework of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), Trend reports.
According to the information, the event “Solidarity for decolonization and green future” held by Baku Initiative Group (BIG) in the pavilion of the National NGO Forum in “Green Zone” was attended by deputies of colonized Mali, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Djibouti, Togo, Mauritania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Cameroon, heads of non-governmental organizations, politicians, eco-activists, and human rights activists.
At the event, devoted to environmental problems in former colonies, opinions were exchanged on the best ways to achieve a green and foreign-free future for the African continent. Discussions touched upon the negative impacts of colonialism in those regions, sustainable development, and the promotion of ecological recovery and stability.
Participants described the continuation of the colonial policies of several states and condemned their attempts to implement new manifestations of colonialism. It was emphasized that France was expelled from the Sahel region of Africa because of colonial policies. The event stated the importance of decolonizing regions still under colonial oppression.
Speakers stated that colonialism had left a deep mark on Africa, and its effects are still being felt today. They noted that climate change was one of the greatest challenges facing the continent. The links between the colonial past and the current climate crisis in Africa were multifaceted and required detailed analysis. It has been reported that colonial powers turned African countries into suppliers of raw materials and cheap labor, preventing the development of local industry and agriculture. These policies made the economies of former and present colonial countries dependent on exports and vulnerable to external shocks as well as climate change. The colonizers' use of unsustainable land management practices, such as planting monocultures and deforestation, led to soil degradation and lower crop yields. This, in turn, increased the vulnerability of African countries to drought and other extreme weather events. Many African countries have become major exporters of oil and gas, increasing their dependence on fossil fuels and slowing the transition to renewable energy. Climate change is causing more frequent and severe droughts and floods, with negative impacts on agriculture, food security, and the economy as a whole. It causes problems such as rising sea levels, the spread of disease, and migration.
To note, this BIG event was organized within the framework of the grant competition “COP29: International Initiatives” announced jointly by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the State Support Agency for NGOs.
In the framework of the event, a video about the activities of the Baku Initiative Group (BIG) was screened. An exhibition of photos depicting the negative consequences of French nuclear tests in African countries was organized, and it was emphasized that these tests left a toxic legacy in the regions where they were conducted.
To note, the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), which will run until November 22, opened at the Baku Olympic Stadium on November 11. It is the largest event organized by Azerbaijan to date, and the first time in the region that it is being held in Azerbaijan.
Within COP29, the highest level event - the summit of world leaders on climate action – was held on November 12–13.
The main expectation from COP29 is to agree on a fair and ambitious New Collective Quantitative Goal (NCQG) on climate finance. The COP29 Presidency has launched 14 initiatives that include linkages between climate action and the Sustainable Development Goals, including green energy corridors, green energy storage, harmony for climate resilience, clean hydrogen, methane reduction in organic waste, action on green digital technologies, and other topics.
In addition to being a top priority that creates the conditions for action, creating climate finance will also help fulfill the 1.5°C pledge by bringing everyone together.
The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Rio Earth Summit in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The acronym COP (Conference of Parties) stands for “Conference of Parties” and is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change.
A total of 198 countries are parties to the Convention. Unless otherwise decided by the parties, COP is held annually. The first COP event was held in March 1995 in Berlin, and its secretariat is located in Bonn.
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