A South African climate change activist, Thapelo Phiri Jr, says he has declined an invitation to attend the Cop27 climate change summit because decisions made are not being implemented anyway.
Phiri, who is an organic fertiliser specialist based in Gauteng, attended Cop26 in Glasgow last year. He was among a hand-picked group of eight people invited to the annual United Nations Climate Change conference.
“During Cop26, [as] young people from Africa and Europe, we tabled recommendations that there needed to be an inclusive economy in agriculture. There is a need to focus on regenerative agriculture and focus on organic methods for farming.”
Also, says Phiri, better soil testing methods for farmers were recommended. “We said that the [available] climate change finance needs to also assist small-scale farmers who have been impacted by climate change.”
None of the ideas and recommendations were implemented, much to the discouragement of young climate change activists, says Phiri. This led to his decision to not make the trip to Egypt to attend Cop27, starting today.
‘Put Africa first’
“When it comes to climate change and the effects it has on agriculture, Africa is failing to prioritise its own needs ahead of this crucial meeting which is happening in Africa,” Phiri tells Food For Mzansi.
“I do not think the people who will be attending Cop27 have the mandate of turning things around. The people who will be attending need to put the needs of Africa at heart. Africa needs a voice of change when it comes to climate change.”
According to Phiri, the continent cannot ignore conversations about the impact that climate change continues to have on sustainable food supply. Drastic measures are needed if Africa is to truly realise a food secure continent for the future.
Though he anticipates that the impact of climate change on farming and agriculture will be a hot topic at Cop27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt this year, he doubts that any impactful decisions will be taken.
“Conflicts of interest also play a part in decisions of conferences of parties not taking off because you have influential companies who are sponsoring the event but have a negative track record when it comes to climate change issues,” he says.
Engaging Lesotho
Meanwhile, Phiri confirms that instead of traveling to Egypt, he is off to Lesotho to meet the country’s new government and prime minister. They will engage on issues relating to food security.
“Lesotho is one of the countries that is still going strong on school food nutrition programmes, so it is important that as innovators, we reach out to the new government and advise them on how better to enrich their programme with innovative tools and methods.
“We cannot all be activists. We need innovators to lead us and mitigate the challenges of climate change that we face as a continent.”
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