ANEEJ Delegation Heads to Baku, Azerbaijan for COP29
Advocates for Climate Reparations, Loss and Damage Fund, and Just Energy Transition
BENIN CITY, NIGERIA, November 12, 2024… The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) delegation to the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference, being held from November 11 to November 22, 2024, will today arrive Baku, Azerbaijan for the conference.
ANEEJ Executive Director, the Rev. David Ugolor, in a statement issued in Benin City today, emphasized the importance of ANEEJ’s role in COP29, advocating for a fair approach to climate justice. “Climate reparations are essential to addressing the historical environmental injustices suffered by communities in the Niger Delta and across the Global South. It’s time for those most responsible for climate degradation to be held accountable, contributing to a fair energy transition that prioritizes those most impacted by this crisis,” Ugolor said.
The ANEEJ delegation is led by Programme Manager, Innocent Edemhanria, who will actively engage in high-level discussions on strengthening the Loss and Damage Fund, advocating for practical frameworks, including a tax on historic polluters and global investors, to fund energy transition projects that can bolster resilience across Nigeria and Africa.
“For too long, the communities least responsible for climate change have borne the heaviest burden,” Ugolor continued. “We urge COP29 stakeholders to acknowledge this imbalance and implement meaningful policies, like taxing major emitters, to fund equitable, sustainable energy transitions.”
ANEEJ also stands in solidarity with the Niger Delta communities, echoing their call for global investors to witness firsthand the toll that decades of oil and gas extraction have inflicted on the region. “It’s one thing to read about the devastation; it’s quite another to stand in the Niger Delta and see the degradation with your own eyes,” Ugolor said. “We invite the world to come and understand the human cost of oil and gas exploitation, so we can no longer turn a blind eye to it.”
This conference of global leaders, climate experts, and environmental activists will address some of the most pressing climate issues facing the world today, with key priorities including climate reparations, advancing the Loss and Damage Fund, and developing just energy transition pathways for countries in the Global South.
During COP29, the ANEEJ delegation will participate in key discussions, panels, and side events focused on climate finance, reparations, and loss and damage mechanisms. ANEEJ stand ready to translate insights from COP29 into actionable policies that will fortify climate resilience efforts in Nigeria and Africa. ANEEJ will also launch a series of public engagements and awareness campaigns to highlight the role of climate reparations and foster a unified demand for accountability from historic polluters.
By amplifying the voices of affected communities and championing just and sustainable solutions, ANEEJ aims to make COP29 a milestone in the fight for climate justice.
For further information, please contact ANEEJ at 08187674339 or info@aneej.org. Follow ANEEJ on X, Instagram, and Facebook at @aneejnigria, @Latakpu, aneej__nigeria, and facebook.com/aneejnigeria for updates and insights.