Emmanuel Lekishon, a UNFPA youth champion from Kenya and co-founder of the African Center for Health, Climate & Gender Justice Alliance (ACHCGA) on Friday called for consensus among states on the New Collective Quantified Goals (NCQGs).
Speaking at the ongoing 29th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, Lekishon highlighted the stakes, stating, “My community remains at the frontlines of climate disaster, and the NCQGs deliberations could be our last hope.”
The NCQGs represent more than a technical goal, they are a beacon of hope for communities facing escalating climate risks. Grounded in Article 2 of the Paris Agreement, the NCQGs aim to limit global temperature increases to 1.5°C, build climate resilience, and align financial flows with sustainable, adaptive development without compromising food security.
The path to achieving the NCQGs consensus now seems fraught with challenges looming as COP29 turns closer to its edge.
The Executive Director of Power Shift Africa Mohammed Adow also weighed in on the same. Speaking during the CAN International Press Conference in Baku, Adow said, “The new text rightly diagnoses the climate problem, including the required finance for adaptation and energy transition, but glaringly omits what the rich countries will provide to developing countries.”
Adow believes that, “The text includes some important signals on grant-based financing, and the need to avoid debt-inducing instruments.”
It is worth noting that the aforementioned gaps leave vulnerable communities at continued risk, underscoring the need for COP summits to prioritize concrete outcomes over symbolic statements.
To transform COPs into platforms of meaningful change, several key actions are necessary. First, equity must take center stage in climate financing, with transparent mechanisms to close the funding gap for developing nations. Second, agreements need actionable roadmaps, complete with timelines and measurable milestones, to ensure progress.
Third, local leadership must be amplified. Grassroots voices, like Lekishon’s, and global voices like Mohammed Adow bring invaluable insights and innovations that can drive transformative strategies.
Without these critical steps, the NCQG risks becoming another unmet aspiration. COP29 presents an opportunity to align global resources, political will, and community-led solutions to confront the climate crisis head-on. The urgency is undeniable, and the stakes could not be higher.