(MENAFN- Trend News Agency)
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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