Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) convened a critical webinar
titled “The Emission Gaps and the Road to COP 29.” The webinar brought
together environmental experts, activists, and public interest lawyers
to discuss urgent issues surrounding global climate policy, emissions
reduction, and the upcoming COP29.
Speakers reviewed the evolution of COP conferences and pointed to
critical milestones, such as the Kyoto Protocol of 1997 and the Paris
Agreement of 2015. They noted, however, that COP’s current voluntary
emission targets—known as Nationally Determined Contributions
(NDCs)—fall short, pushing the world dangerously close to catastrophic
temperature increases. Participants critiqued COP’s structure, which
continues to benefit wealthy nations and the private sector at the
expense of vulnerable communities.
Ruth Nyambura, an African ecofeminist with Ramani Collective, argued
that the emissions gap reflects more than just figures; it represents
ongoing injustices—wars, inequality, and human rights abuses. She
highlighted how the fossil fuel industry and military-industrial complex
drive environmental devastation and land dispossession, especially
across African nations and the broader Global South.
“For participatory frameworks to ensure these funds serve communities
genuinely impacted by climate change and avoiding absorption by elites
or corrupt governments. A decentralized approach to climate policy would
better meet the real needs of frontline communities. Nyambura called for
a reevaluation of COP data and narratives to dismantle rather than
reinforce colonial power structures while highlighting the limitations
of current multilateral structures, prioritizing powerful nations and
sidelining local voices.
Fadhel Kaboub, an associate professor of economics at Denison University
and Senior Advisor with PowerShift Africa, noted that global warming
targets would be impossible to achieve under current fossil fuel
extraction rates, leaving Africa’s renewable potential largely untapped
due to a lack of financing and technology transfer. Kaboub advocated for
climate reparations, structured as grants rather than loans, to address
the historical carbon debt owed by industrialized countries.
“These reparations would finance Africa’s self-sufficiency through
renewable energy and food sovereignty initiatives. As COP 29 approaches,
we must center the voices of those most affected by climate injustice,
especially in the Global South. African leaders must stand against
further fossil fuel exploitation and demand policies that truly
transform our continent,”
Thuli Makama, a public interest attorney and Africa Senior Advisor at
Oil Change International emphasized that the “pipeline of resistance”
needed to counter false narratives around climate action that profit
corporations while harming vulnerable communities. Makama encouraged
civil society to resist co-optation by COP processes and instead invest
in counter-COP forums, which allow for open discussion on the root
causes of climate change.
“COP 29 should focus on accountability. The calls include climate
finance, technology transfer, and addressing loss and damage—a COP where
fossil fuel interests do not dominate and where the voices of impacted
communities are prioritized. African leaders should reject fossil fuel
expansion and promote biodiversity protection and renewable energy
solutions aligned with Africa’s sustainable development.”
Nnimmo Bassey emphasized that fossil fuel interests remain heavily
represented within COP, creating a shield from accountability despite
their contribution to the climate crisis. “The COP process has
prioritized market-based solutions that do not address the systemic
causes of emissions, such as extractive capitalism and entrenched global
power structures. Instead of driving meaningful climate action, these
‘solutions’ are deepening the crisis,” said Bassey.
The dialogue, led by HOMEF’s Director, Nnimmo Bassey, called for radical
reforms to address COP’s historic failings and the inequalities that
persist in climate negotiations. Panelists agreed on the need for a
global resistance movement to unite feminists, labor unions, indigenous
communities, and environmental activists to challenge structures
perpetuating climate injustice.
