Climate Change: Africa must move adaptation from promises to action - AGN Chair urges

Nana Dr. Antwi-Boasiako Amoah, Chair of the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN), called for urgent and practical action to strengthen climate adaptation efforts across Africa. He made the remarks while delivering the opening statement remotely at the Pan African Coalition for Adaptation and Resilience (PACAR 2026) Workshop in Athi River, Kenya. He stated that Africa needs "to move adaptation from recognition to implementation; from general commitments to measurable progress; and from fragmented pilot projects to scaled, financed and country-owned resilience programmes."

Dr. Amoah highlighted the growing toll of climate change on ordinary Africans, especially farmers, fisherfolk, women, children and vulnerable communities already struggling with poverty and weak infrastructure. He noted that climate shocks are worsening food insecurity, damaging public infrastructure, straining health systems and increasing economic pressure on governments already battling debt and development challenges. He explained that drought is not only a water problem, but also "a food price, nutrition, health and income problem," and that flooding is not only an infrastructure problem, but also "a housing, sanitation, disease and local government finance problem."

The three-day workshop was organised by Power Shift Africa. Dr. Amoah commended Power Shift Africa for consistently championing adaptation issues across the continent and acknowledged the organisation's efforts in connecting grassroots realities to international climate negotiations. He also raised concerns about the accessibility and quality of climate finance available to African countries, stating that "too much of what is counted as climate finance does not reach those carrying the greatest adaptation burden."