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With carbon trade initiatives popping up in countries across Africa, Nigeria and Cameroon are lining up besides Gabon to create national projects that can earn significant amounts for reducing carbon emissions. **By Conrad Onyango, bird story agency** Two African countries are inching closer to making an entry into the carbon market as more line up to tap into the lucrative billion-dollars trade. Nigeria has its eyes fixed on the international trade of carbon credits through a continental platform, while Cameroon is developing a strategy that will draw in green financing for the country Carbon trading is a programme designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by giving firms or countries a right to emit carbon dioxide at an agreed price per tonne- rates vary across jurisdictions with most governments yet to agree on trading rules. Each carbon credit is tied to an emissions reduction project and represents a defined amount of carbon kept out of the atmosphere, such as preventing deforestation or carbon removal from the atmosphere. Nigeria has begun pioneering a voluntary carbon market programme christened, the Africa Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI), it said is part of its government plans to achieve net zero emissions. The initiative, set for an official unveiling during COP 27, is being spearheaded by a 14-member steering committee which Nigeria’s Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo joined on October 31. “Federal Government is pioneering a voluntary billion dollars’ worth Carbon Market on the continent which will create, over the period of energy transition, millions of new jobs in Nigeria alone according to estimates of international experts,” Osinbajo said in a tweet indicating Nigeria’s lead role. According to ACMI’s projections the west African country has the potential to produce up to 30 million carbon credits per year by 2030, which at US$20 per credit would earn Nigeria alone more than US$500 million annually. ACMI’s steering committee made up of African leaders, CEOs, and carbon credit experts has tasked itself to facilitating emergence and expansion of the continent’s participation in voluntary carbon markets. “The Committee and the Initiative will identify and address the challenges facing African voluntary carbon markets and ensure carbon credits grow into a major African export,” said Osinbajo. Ecosystem Marketplace in its third quarter report, State of the Voluntary Carbon Markets, shows the voluntary carbon market value grew to around USD$2 billion in 2021, quadrupling from its 2020 values. “This figure is expected to grow rapidly – creating a potential major source of finance for Africa,” said Joyce Hu, who works with an organisation blazing a trail for localised carbon trade in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Wildlife Works. Hu, Marketing Communications Director at Wildlife Works, said that more climate financing to Africa - with some of the world’s largest and most important nature carbon sinks - such as the Congo Basin which captures around 2.4 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide a year - will both protect fragile ecosystems and at the same time, fund sustainable development for communities based in and around those areas. The community-centered wildlife conservation firm protects five million acres of forest through its carbon credit projects. Data from the company shows it reduces over 9.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually, with the sale of credits also supporting more than 500 local jobs. With operations in both DRC and Kenya, the organisation said it was expanding partnerships in key African carbon sinks to help communities gain access to green financing. Gabon became the first African economy to start earning from its efforts to cut down forest-related carbon emissions in 2021. The country was rewarded 14 million euros by the Central Africa Forests Initiative as an initial instalment for managing to remove 127 million tonnes of carbon annually from the Congo Basin forest. The country has the potential to rake in 126 million euros by 2025 if it manages to cut carbon emissions by half. Cameroon has also announced it is developing a strategy that will see the country begin to earn money on carbon markets, starting in 2023. Cameroon’s Minister of Finance, Louis Paul Motazé was quoted by local media saying the country also located in the Congo Basin, is assessing its carbon balance sheet before making an entry into the trade. "Our plan is to assess our current situation, identify solutions and implement them to finalize the carbon market entry process," said Motazé. In East Africa, seven countries are looking to transition away from a Clean Development Mechanism that restricts developing countries from implementing emission reduction projects within their jurisdiction. A report on carbon markets and climate finance by the Eastern Africa Alliance, shows that Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda are ready to begin trading in voluntary carbon markets. Internationally traded credits between governments and private sector players are acceptable, under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. “Eastern Africa is getting ready for engaging in a new generation of global carbon markets,” said the report titled, ‘Revitalizing Eastern Africa’s Institutional Capacity To Engage In Global Carbon Markets.’ However, these countries lack the regulations and guidelines to give them the capacity to fully track all market activities including carbon exports and to transfer mitigation outcomes across borders. According to the report, no country has developed a clear policy or legislation on the continued operation of Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) activities and their relationship to Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) implementation. There is also a lack of clarity on whether mitigation outcomes resulting from VCM activities can be exported abroad and whether that would require corresponding adjustments. “There is a clear policy gap on the relationship between voluntary carbon markets and NDC accounting and reporting resulting from uncertainty around these issues at the global level,” according to the report. Africa remains an untapped market for carbon trading with most countries still lacking regulatory frameworks to drive carbon pricing- most climate change frameworks used by countries being executive instruments. Hu singles out transparency around carbon credit pricing as a key challenge. “More transparency will minimize greenwashing and ensure more high-quality credits on the market,” she said. According to Hu, the pricing of carbon credits varies with the type of carbon project the credit will fund, the volume of credits traded at a time, the geography of the project, and how long the credit has been on the market. usually, the longer it has been on the market, the lower the price. However, some projects can attract a premium. “If a carbon project supports the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, the price of that credit may be higher as it may be seen as more valuable to potential buyers,” she explained. Currently, South Africa in the only African country to have implemented a carbon tax, through Carbon Tax Act No 15 of 2019. A number of other countries including Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Botswana are considering introducing carbon trade policies. **bird story agency**

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As the annual climate summit gets underway in Egypt, the Ugandan climate activist calls out the European Union's leaders for double standards. by bird story agency “Big oil and gas companies are pretending that we need new fossil fuel development in Africa to lift people out of energy poverty. The only way to help lift people out of energy poverty is through distributed renewable energy,” said Vanessa Nakate. In a recent Twitter thread, the Ugandan climate activist criticised Europe’s growing pressure on Africa to develop new fossil fuel infrastructure as they scramble for alternatives to Russian gas supplies. European countries have been scrambling to replace Russian gas. Germany is in talks with Senegal, Italy has struck deals with Algeria, Angola, the Republic of Congo, and Mozambique, while the European Union now has agreements with Algeria, Nigeria, Niger, and Egypt. But Europe’s push for energy from Africa comes against the backdrop of the climate change reality already setting in. Scientists have persistently warned that producing fossil fuels contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, which are responsible for a changing climate. “The scientists are saying we are approaching catastrophic tipping points that threaten vast parts of the world’s population. The International Energy Agency – recently announced that we could have no new fossil fuels if we are to keep global temperatures below 1.5ºC,” Nakate noted She also quoted the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who has repeatedly stated that any new investment in fossil fuels would be “economic and moral madness.” To Nakate, this is a clear signal “that we must have no new oil and gas.” Vanessa Nakate holding up a placard. (Photo: Vanessa Nakate) “And people from rich countries – who have long benefited from fossil fuel extraction – still feel they need more coal, oil and gas regardless of what that might mean for people on the frontlines of the climate crisis,” added the 25-year-old. This, notwithstanding the fact that wealthier nations have not honoured the 2008 Copenhagen pledge to provide $100bn a year to developing countries by 2020. “Twelve years ago, rich nations made a significant pledge at a UN climate summit in Copenhagen. They promised to channel US$100 billion a year to less wealthy nations by 2020, to help them adapt to climate change and mitigate further rises in temperature. We are still waiting,” she said. She explained that many global south countries were considering exploring oil and gas for the first time to help pay the high-interest loans they took out to recover from climate-induced storms, floods and droughts. And while the activist acknowledged that energy poverty still affected millions in sub-Saharan Africa, with 600 million not having access to electricity. She was adamant that big oil companies would not be the solution. “The oil and gas that fossil fuel companies want to develop in Africa will not be for Africans. That oil and gas will be loaded onto ships and get shipped to Europe. The profits from that new fossil fuel development will line the pockets of people who are already very rich,” Nakate said. For the activist, the only solution is renewable energy. “The only way to help lift people out of energy poverty is through distributed renewable energy. That is the cheapest, fastest way to get energy to people living at the last mile. As we head to #COP27, we must put people and justice at the centre of addressing the climate crisis,” she concluded.

Green financing, tech transfer and climate adaptation top the list as African states work to present a unified front at the UN Climate Change Conference 2022 (COP27) in Egypt. Seth Onyango, bird story agency "Act now" will be Africa’s clarion call at the COP27 as the continent intensifies calls for a just energy transition amid a worsening climate crisis. The "action" is likely to be seen more in the halls and offices of the world's financing institutions than on the ground, however, as Africa battles with how to finance its energy requirements. Emerging details show that African envoys will press heavily polluting, rich economies to offset the continent's environmental damage from global warming with favourable financing packages. At present, Africa accounts for a fraction of global emissions - at just under 4 per cent - in contrast to China (23 percent), the US (19 percent), and Europe (13 percent). Studies show Africa is most vulnerable to the effects of climate change with extreme weather like drought and flooding already becoming commonplace on the continent. It is on that premise that African governments want wealthier nations to make big investments in clean technology and infrastructure to support developing countries. Africa is keen to obtain green technology that can reduce costs and increase competitiveness in the clean energy sector. This includes deploying efficient tech to help drive down the cost of producing green hydrogen, wind power and solar energy. Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) expects Africa to push for reliable financing to establish renewable energy pathways through just energy transitions in Egypt. Last month, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) revealed that rich nations failed to keep a US$100 billion-a-year pledge to developing nations to help them achieve their climate goals. Those will be among the concerns raised by African states at the UN summit in Egypt in November amid calls for more commitments beyond lip service. But commentators - particularly those focused on the fossil fuel industry which has seen in the disruptions caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a welcome diversion - are already beginning to cast aspersions on the commitment of developed economies in light of the geopolitical environment. "Going forward, the Ukrainian crisis will structurally push the world into a new phase of geopolitics that is likely to downgrade spirit and unity of purpose in global climate goals implementation," wrote George Wachira, a director at Petroleum Focus Consultants. On the flip side, however, the European Union is likely to accelerate investments into green energy - with Africa seen as part of the solution - to wean itself from dependence on Russian gas. This could unlock an avalanche of finances for renewables projects the world over, especially in Africa which boasts some of the biggest potential. But African states are not coming from a position of weakness: their policy decisions would either sabotage or reinforce the global climate change mitigation efforts. Samuel Nyandemo, economist and senior lecturer in economics at the University of Nairobi argues that Africa's leverage is its fossils which if scaled would add to the damage being done to an already fragile climate. Given Africa’s rapid urbanisation rate, ambitious plans for cities to adapt and urbanise sustainably can also be expected to be among the priorities of COP27. On July 15, the 41st Ordinary Session of the Executive Council adopted the African Common Position on Energy Access and Just Transition, a comprehensive approach that charts Africa’s short, medium, and long-term energy development pathways to accelerate universal energy access and transition without compromising its development imperatives. It stipulates that Africa will continue to deploy all forms of its abundant energy resources including renewable and non-renewable energy to address energy demand. “This is an important and major step forward towards ensuring and confirming Africa's right for a differentiated path towards the goal of universal access to energy, ensuring energy security for our Continent and strengthening its resilience, while at the same time acting responsibly towards our planet by improving the energy mix,” said Dr Abou-Zeid emphasising that it is a timely measure to push for favourable outcomes and tangible investments in energy and infrastructure at COP 27 in Sharm El Shiekh, Egypt. According to Time, Africa's pitch at the UN summit could further include "moving from high-carbon energy sources like oil and gas to renewables, and “carbon credit” schemes, where foreign governments and companies pay for tree planting in exchange for producing greenhouse gases." The International Energy Agency (IEA) notes that the vast majority of African Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) contain mitigation and adaptation targets that are conditional on receiving international financial, technical and capacity-building support. "In aggregate to date, 48 African countries have requested over US$1.2 trillion of international financial support by 2030 to implement their NDCs. Almost 60 per cent is for climate mitigation actions, around 30 per cent for adaptation and the remaining 10 per cent unspecified or for both mitigation and adaptation," the IEA states. "Six countries – Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Somalia and South Africa – account for about 60 per cent of the finance requested to implement NDCs." Time magazine has reported that according to U.N. and Africa Development Bank estimates, Africa needs around US$3 trillion to fulfil its self-determined emissions targets, known as nationally determined contributions - an amount that each country is required to submit as part of the 2015 Paris agreement on climate. “Africa must be given adequate time to transition and transform its energy infrastructure. We cannot transform abruptly. We need resources, capacity, technology transfer and finance to power our development,” Harsen Nyambe, the director of sustainable environment at the African Union Commission told Time. How to finance a faster transformation for the continent - given Africa's rich abundance of renewable resources - could well become one of the most pressing issues at COP27. bird story agency

What Africa expects from COP27

What is green hydrogen? Green hydrogen is hydrogen produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable electricity. After renewable energy is generated and distributed to a hydrogen plant, it is used to split water (H2O) into hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2) in a process known as electrolysis. The resultant hydrogen is then transported via pipeline or via cryogenic liquid tanker trucks, to where it is needed as a fuel or for industrial processes. Green hydrogen can be used in multiple industrial processes including steel making and as fuel in "fuel cells" that can power cars, buses, mining vehicles, trains or even ships. According to the International Energy Agency, green hydrogen production would save 830 million tonnes of CO2 emitted annually when hydrogen is produced using fossil fuels. More CO2 would be saved by having hydrogen fuel cells replace other forms of fuel - or even batteries - in vehicles. Graphic by Hope Mukami, bird story agency

Nigeria has had a flood crisis since June 2022, with a resounding impact — over 600 lives lost, almost 1.5 million displaced, and over 200,000 homes damaged in 370 local governments across the country's 36 states. This is the country's worst flood incident in a decade, with floods projected to continue until end of November. By Kate Okorie In its seasonal climate prediction for 2022, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) predicted an average annual rainfall range of 390 mm in the far north to 2790 mm in the coastal states. This forecast is similar to 2021. The coastal states, located in the southern and middle-belt regions of Nigeria, are generally prone to seasonal flooding due to prolonged rainfall and their location along Rivers Niger and Benue. The rainy season in some coastal states begins as early as February and ends in mid-December. The floods have mainly affected the twelve Nigerian states along the Rivers Niger and Benue. These states are spread across four geopolitical regions — south-south, south-east, north-central and north-east — and include Bayelsa, Edo, Rivers, Anambra, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Benue, Nassarawa, Taraba, Plateau and Adamawa. Flooding in Kabawa Lakoja Kogi State, Nigeria. (Photo : bird story agency) Recent data released by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development as of October 28 shows that at least one local government in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have experienced flooding. "In the beginning, we thought the flood would be just like the previous years," said Samuel Uduma, a resident of Lokoja, Kogi state. Uduma helps his father in his clothing store at the New Market and occasionally purchases supplies at a market in the central part of town. Flooding in Kabawa Lakoja Kogi State, Nigeria. (Photo : bird story agency) The floods disrupted his market trips. He now had to rely on canoes to purchase goods, and the transportation fare increased each time he made the trip. At one point, it rose to 600 Nigerian Naira ($0.82) — more than double the pre-flood cost. The town's major highway, an important link between the southern and northern parts of the country, was completely inundated, leaving travellers stranded. Flooding in Kabawa Lakoja Kogi State, Nigeria. (Photo : bird story agency) "This is the highest floodwater we have ever seen; we never had to use canoes in 2012," says his father, Uduma Okwara. At the peak of the flooding in Lokoja, the river embankment built along the shores of the River Niger was submerged entirely, and flood water spread into the surrounding communities. The four-kilometre embankment was a 2015 project by the Kogi State Government developed as a precautionary measure to mitigate flooding when the River Niger overflows its bank. It was a response to the 2012 flood that badly affected the state. Old Market Lokoja Flood Peak. (Photo: bird story agency) The government has attributed the flooding to heavy rainfall and climate change. "80 per cent of the floods in this country is water that we are blessed with God from the sky," said Suleiman Adamu, the Nigerian Minister of Water Resources. While it is true that extreme rainfall contributed to the ongoing floods, there is no evidence to support the figure the minister claimed. **What caused the 2022 floods? ** In the past three years, floods have become the second most recurrent hazard affecting Nigeria after epidemics, with flood events peaking around August and October. The damage caused by the 2022 floods is greater than any single flood event recorded in the country; it can only be compared to the 2012 floods. According to the Nigerian Inland Waterway Authority (NIWA), as of October 6, 2022, water levels stood at 13.22 metres (43 feet), 0.38 metres higher than the 12.84 (42 feet) metres recorded in 2012. Both measurements were taken within a month after Cameroon released water from its dam. Geospatial data and satellite images gathered by Sentinel Hub show that the current flood events across the country resulted from abnormally heavy rainfall exacerbated by excess water from Cameroon's Lagdo dam. *Cameroon's Dam* In September, Cameroon's power company, Eneo announced plans to release excess water from the Lagdo dam after its reservoir hit 91% capacity --- water have to be released frequently to prevent overspilling. "The Lagdo dam operators in the Republic of Cameroon have commenced the release of excess water from the reservoir by September 13, 2022. We are aware that the released water cascades down to Nigeria through River Benue and its tributaries, thereby inundating communities that have already been impacted by heavy precipitation," The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) revealed in a statement on September 19. The Lagdo dam — located 100km from the Nigerian border — empties its excess water into the River Benue. However, the absence of a buffer dam and adequate flood control measures limits the ability of the Nigerian authorities to avert the impact of the higher-velocity air water arriving in its territories. At the inception of Cameroon's Lagdo Dam in 1977, Nigeria signed an agreement with Cameroon to build a buffer dam — named Dasin Hausa Dam — to cushion the effect of the water released from the Lagdo Dam. Forty-five years after committing to the project, the Nigerian government has yet to fulfil its side of the contract and has resorted to makeshift measures to help flood victims. A satellite image taken on October 22 shows that the dam water aggravated the expansion of the River Benue. Subsequently, the river overflowed into Numan, a port town in Adamawa State, Northeast Nigeria. *Climate Change* Between 2011 and 2020, Nigeria recorded 103 flood events, most of which were linked to intense rainfall, according to a 2022 review by Nura Umar, a lecturer of the Department and Statistics at the Umaru Musa Yar'adua University in Katsina State. The study, like many others, links these abnormal rainfall patterns to climate change — this also holds true for the ongoing flood events across the country. Satellite images taken a few days before the release of water from the Lagdo dam showed that both rivers — River Benue and River Niger — had already expanded due to heavy rainfall. Since June, certain areas in southern Nigeria have experienced rainfall amounts of over 100 mm daily. The northern regions have also experienced higher-than-normal rainfall. In August, NiMet reported that most of the states in this region had recorded over 300 mm of rain, 25 per cent above the monthly normal. NiMet's monthly flood analysis published before water was released from the dam showed that the soil moisture content had already attained saturation levels due to accumulated rainfall across the country. This means that many of the states currently experiencing floods were already vulnerable. In summary, severe rainfall is responsible for most floods across the country, with the dam water worsening the impact of months of heavy precipitation. **What is at stake?** The impact of the flood events is far-reaching, even worse than the 2012 floods that led to an estimated loss of $17 billion. As of September 2022, inflation in Nigeria reached its highest in 17 years, and the impact of the flood could cause further strain on the economy. The total financial loss caused by the ongoing floods is yet to be ascertained. However, the country has incurred significant losses across some of its dominant sectors, including agriculture, health and energy. *Agriculture* The World Food Programme reported that over 630,000 hectares of farmland had been destroyed since the floods began in June 2022. This includes 4,500 hectares of Olam's rice farm worth over $15 million swept away when the floods hit Nassarawa State. The Olam Rice Farm is Nigeria's biggest contributor to the rice value chain. The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in n Adamawa reported that the floods swept away over 89,000 hectares of farmland. Before the floods, Nigeria faced food insecurity resulting from inter-communal conflicts. The increased food shortage and inflation place the country at high risk of a major food crisis. *Health* In Agbere, a rural community in Bayelsa State, the floods have inundated the only primary healthcare centre (PHC) serving the residents and providing maternal care. "The doctors, pharmacists … everyone in the hospital has left and no one knows when they will return," says Paul Neche, a staff of the PHC. Preliminary data from the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) show that 1,370 health facilities are either flooded or close to a flooded zone. For a region like Nigeria, prone to infectious diseases, losing health infrastructures is a massive blow to the country's fragile public health system. In addition, contaminated water and other unsanitary conditions associated with floods have increased the risk of further disease outbreaks. Currently, there is a cholera outbreak in the northeastern region, and more than 7,700 cases have already been reported. *Energy* On October 17, 2022, Reuters reported that the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) company had declared force majeure. This was linked to high floodwater levels in the company's operational areas that significantly impaired gas production and upstream supply. NLNG supplies 40% of Nigeria's cooking gas, and impaired supply could lead to price inflation. Residents in oil-rich Bayelsa confirm that this is already happening. "One kilogramme of cooking gas was formerly sold for 900 naira, but its current price is 2000 naira," said Sunday Ebele, a member of the national youth service corps in Bayelsa State. This negatively affects Nigeria's plans to promote local gas utilisation as part of its strategy to reduce uncontrolled gas flaring in the environment. Gas flaring is Nigeria's largest single source of greenhouse gases, contributing nearly 55 million tonnes of CO2 annually. As a critical player in the global LNG business, NLNG is a significant contributor to Nigeria's foreign exchange reserves. Since its inception in 1999, the company has remitted $18 billion in dividends and $9 billion in taxes to the Nigerian government. *Response* About a month after the Lagdo dam was opened, the Federal Executive Council approved the National Flood Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan for Nigeria. The specific details of the response plan are yet to be made public, but it is reported to contain immediate, short-term and long-term measures to control flooding in the country. However, the government has repeatedly come under criticism for its failure to implement sustainable flood control measures even though they have systems that can detect extreme weather events early. The government has yet to develop better city plans to manage the growing population and prevent settlement on flood plains. Located 200 km from the Lagdo dam and 1,000 km away from the badly flooded Kogi State, the proposed Dasin Hausa dam is well-placed to mitigate the flood impact on the state and the other surrounding states in Northeastern Nigeria. The abandoned dam — more than twice the size of the Lagdo dam — was also supposed to generate 300 megawatts of electricity and provide irrigation support to about 150,000 hectares of land in Adamawa, Taraba, and Benue states. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Adamu — Nigeria's Minister of Water Resources — revealed that feasibility studies have already been completed for the Dasin Hausa dam. However, he did not comment on the project timeline. Based on the seasonal climate prediction, heavy rainfall is expected to continue until November — mid-December for some southern states. This invariably means an increased risk of flooding in more communities. Past and recent flood events have shown the country's short-lived reactive measures to flood disasters are inefficient. To salvage the economy, environmental activists have advised that the government commit to climate financing and adopt sustainable flood control measures that suit its current ecological needs. AE

What is green steel? Green steel is becoming a buzzword on the continent as governments race to achieve net zero carbon emission targets. African countries are expanding their infrastructure and growing their manufacturing industries, which is increasing their appetite for steel. According to the World Steel Association, regular steel production accounts for between 7 and 9 per cent of global emissions because around three-quarters of global production happens in coal-fired plants. Traditional steelmaking involves using a blast furnace, burning coal and emitting a lot of carbon dioxide. And this is puzzling governments as countries begin to switch to e-mobility, and the construction sector, including heavy use in roads and bridges, looks to alternative solutions that promise lower zero carbon emissions. Green steel - manufacturing steel without resorting to fossil fuels - significantly reduces industry's carbon footprint. It swaps the use of coal with clean electricity and green hydrogen, to eliminate the "dirtiest" (carbon dioxide emitting) part of processing. Some African countries, mostly in North Africa, have already adopted cleaner technologies like direct reduced iron-electric arc furnaces (DRI-EAF). In traditional steel making, raw iron (Fe) is mined from rock that is rich in iron and then pelletised using a furnace (which does not melt the iron). The iron pellets would then traditionally be refined into steel by applying heat to melt the iron, in a furnace. However, a more recent process for turning iron into steel has been developed, known as reduction, to create direct reduced iron (the DRI in the DRI-EAF above). This usually uses a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen derived from natural gas, electricity or gasified coal plants, which is blown into the heated iron, prior to the iron being refined into steel. According to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, this process emits less carbon than the basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) process, used in 71% of global crude steel production in 2021. In addition, hydrogen - and even, green hydrogen - can completely replace the carbon dioxide used in the DRI process. Green hydrogen is a crucial component of the green steel production process. When renewable energy is used to create hydrogen from water, via electrolysis, it is completely free of carbon dioxide emissions and is known as green hydrogen. When hydrogen is burned (oxidised) to create energy, it emits only water. When the furnaces used in the making of iron pellets as well as for refining steel are completely powered by renewable energy and the reduction method is employed, the result is green steel. Infographic by Hope Mukami, bird story agency Explainer by Conrad Onyango, bird story agency

Which comes first, the fish or the fishes' homes? For these fishers on the shores of the Indian Ocean, building coral reef homes for fish is a top priority. by bird story agency staff “Coral reefs are like a house for fish. The moment they are destroyed, they cannot breed as effectively and neither will they be comfortable,” Katana Ngala, a fisher turned coral reef restorer from Kuruwitu, on the shores of the Indian Ocean in Kilifi, tells us. Ngala has been involved in coral reef restoration since 2019. Besides leading the community initiative, he doubles up as a coral technician for Oceans Alive Trust, a local organisation protecting marine life on the Kenyan coast. Climate change has affected the ocean ecosystem, especially rising ocean temperatures. High temperatures bleach tiny algae cells on corals and deactivate their growth. Since most fish find shelter, food, reproduce and rear their young in the nooks formed by corals, the loss of corals leads to a decline in fish. A seasoned fisher since he was 16, Ngala has witnessed a significant drop in fish quantity. “Back then, there were lots of fish, but over time, especially in 2003, there was a sharp decline. The fishing gears used by our grandparents were made to trap mature fish unlike those that most fishers use today,” he says. Knowing their livelihood was at stake, he mobilised fishers from neighbouring fishing landing sites, including Bureni, Vipingo, Kinuni, Kuruwitu, Kijangwan and Mwanamia. Together, they created Kuruwitu Conservation & Welfare Association. The community initiative has been the fishers’ vehicle for propagating their interests while ensuring they conserve fish through coral restoration. Nursering of corals on the coral bed. (Photo : bird story agency) “Our immediate goal was to stop aquarium dealers who would trap ornamental fish and sell them at high prices without benefitting us. We also wanted to adjust our fishing gears to allow immature fish to grow and restore fish quantity,” he explains. The group constructs brick structures that immerse into the identified coral restoration site before they line up artificial corals on a plug plate spread on the bricks. Restored coral reefs in the Indian Ocean. (Photo : bird story agency) Fish are then attracted to the plugs, which over time, grow corals using them as breeding grounds and resting spaces. They occasionally visit the sites to brush off algae that could hinder coral growth. “When there are coral algae which can stop the coral reefs from growing on the plug, you have to scratch it using a knife,” Ngala illustrates. Already, the group is witnessing a positive outcome from their coral restoration activities at the ocean shores. “Fish has increased because they can now breed better,” he explains. The initiative has attracted different groups that seek to benchmark and learn coral restoration practices. Ngala believes coral restoration is the surest way to ensure climate adaptation while urging the limitation of human activities that exacerbate climate change and its resultant effects. He, however, remains committed to the call to improve marine ecosystems. Ngala holding corals ready for nursering on the coral beds. (Photo : bird story agency) “It has taken me a lot to restore corals…All of us should take care of the marine biodiversity so that the next generation can enjoy it also,” he explains. bird story agency.

Watching his friends drop out of school due to the impact of drought, Joshua Omunuk was determined to do something about the situation. Then he came across Vanessa Nakate's Rise Up movement. Bird Story Agency When 27-year-old Joshua Omunuk joined the Rise Up Movement, a platform founded by Vanessa Nakate to elevate the voices of African climate activists, he didn't know this decision would lead him to quit his job as a financial planner. "I had to choose between my job and climate activism because they were both competing for my time. I chose activism because I cannot compare the value of standing up for my people to anything else," he noted. Coming from Teso, eastern Uganda, Omunuk cleared tertiary school in 2019 and realised he was among the most privileged in his home region. Many of his peers had dropped out of school and were doing menial jobs around the village since their parents could not afford to educate them. Joshua Omunuk, the Ugandan youth advocating climate action message posing for a picture. (Photo: Joshua Omunuk) In a region heavily dependent on cash crop farming, severe drought disrupted the community's primary source of income and livelihood. "I was lucky my parents had an alternative job otherwise, I would also have suffered the same fate," he explained. Omunuk then started learning about climate change and climate justice. When he saw Vanessa Nakate's activism messages, this resonated with him, and he decided to join the Rise up Movement, quitting his full-time job soon after. The Rise up Movement exposed Joshua to local and international activism, enabling him to impact youth in his community by sharing information on ways to boost climate adaptation and resilience. Joshua Omunuk, the Ugandan youth advocating climate action message holding a placard. (Photo Courtesy : Joshua Omunuk) One of the major issues Joshua speaks against is fossil fuel project funding, many of which are Europe-based. In February, the movement launched an offensive targeting financial institutions funding fossil fuel projects in the continent. The campaign, dubbed 'Fossil banks no thanks,' attracted significant global attention prompting German-based investment financier Deutsche Bank's Chief Executive to invite them for a meeting. "For the first time, we got the opportunity to face an individual institution that we think is part of the problem, and we explained to him why they needed to filter out some clients," he said. This experience reaffirmed to Joshua the potential of activism in creating change in his society. Joshua Omunuk, the Ugandan youth advocating climate action message holding a placard. (Photo Courtesy : Joshua Omunuk) "If I could talk to the top management of this prestigious bank and tell them my mind, then surely it means there is potential in spreading the responsibility message. No one is too small to make a difference. I cannot do much in Teso like availing foodstuff to them, but by telling their story and tracing the defaulters exacerbating their woes, then I will have done my bit," he added. He takes pride in working with a community of activists together with whom they have created a network in 11 countries in Africa. Joshua was part of the youth delegation negotiating for climate financing in COP 26. He anticipates scaling the discussion further when he attends COP 27. "People in Teso, Karamoja, arid Kenya and many parts across Africa are dying because of the ills committed by the big corporations in Europe. Therefore, they should compensate us financialy." bird story agency

These pictures are rights-cleared for republishing. Please credit bird story agency. World Trade Organisation Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala giving her statement at COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Friday, November 7, 2022. The event has been heralded as "Africa's COP" . (Photo : Seth Onyango, bird story agency) Session participants at COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Friday, November 7, 2022. The event has been heralded as "Africa's COP" . (Photo : Seth Onyango, bird story agency) People during a conference at the venue of COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Friday, November 7, 2022. The event has been heralded as "Africa's COP" . (Photo : Seth Onyango, bird story agency) The Togo stand at the venue of COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Friday, November 7, 2022. The event has been heralded as "Africa's COP" . (Photo : Seth Onyango, bird story agency) Session participants at COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Friday, November 7, 2022. The event has been heralded as "Africa's COP" . (Photo : Seth Onyango, bird story agency) Scenes from COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Friday, November 7, 2022. The event has been heralded as "Africa's COP" . Photo : Seth Onyango, bird story agency Climate Justice Alliance booth at the venue of COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Friday, November 7, 2022. The event has been heralded as "Africa's COP" . (Photo : Seth Onyango, bird story agency) bird staff at COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Friday, November 7, 2022. The event has been heralded as "Africa's COP" . (Photo : Seth Onyango, bird story agency) Scenes from COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Friday, November 7, 2022. The event has been heralded as "Africa's COP" . (Photo : Seth Onyango, bird story agency) Scenes at the venue of COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Friday, November 7, 2022. The event has been heralded as "Africa's COP" . (Photo : Seth Onyango, bird story agency)

COP27 President calls for an ‘era of implementation’ as talks kick off in Egypt. Seth Onyango, bird story agency A little less conversation and a lot more action, please: that was the call from African states as 2022’s United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP27) kicked off in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Though previous COPs have been held on the continent – in Durban, South Africa, in 2011 and Marrakech, Morocco, in 2016 – this year’s gathering has been dubbed “Africa’s COP” by many, including the UN Foundation’s Vice President for Climate Change and the Environment. Speaking at the event’s opening last night, Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry, also COP27 President, stressed that climate financing pledges made to the continent needed to be implemented if African countries are to manage the fallout from climate change. “We have constantly called for moving from negotiations and pledges to an era of implementation as a priority as well as the acceleration of the implementation of what we have agreed upon with the UNFCCC promoted in the parties’ accord [the Paris Agreement, adopted by 196 countries at the 2016 meeting] and the work programme while stating the importance of scaling up ambitions and aligning them to countries’ capacities and resources,” said Shoukry. He added that rich, heavily polluting nations’ “current level of ambition” was “not up to the Paris goals”. Adding that “more efficient and wider participation by all relevant parties” was needed to implement pledges and commitments. One of the debates that’s likely to surface repeatedly over the next ten days is how African countries can pivot away from fossil fuels towards green energy without sustaining huge economic costs and without the transition leaving nations quite literally in the dark amid a global energy crisis. Innovative financing schemes will be required to help low-income states add large quantities of renewable energy while simultaneously building out grid and distribution infrastructure. Participants at COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Friday, November 7, 2022. The event has been heralded as "Africa's COP" . (Photo : Seth Onyango, bird story agency) Stakeholders in the continent’s petroleum industry are pushing back against a total turn to green energy – and they’re using Africa’s status as the world’s lowest producer of greenhouse gases to bolster their argument. The continent, which accounts for about 17% of the world’s population, was responsible for less than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions (and only ten countries accounted for most of that figure). The African Petroleum Producers Organization and Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, among others, argue that countries in the global south, particularly those in Africa, should be given leeway to power their economies with hydrocarbons, just like the West did. Petroleum firms argue that industrialised countries were able to leapfrog others in wealth and power by tapping into fossil fuels; what’s good for the goose, they suggest, ought to be good for the gander. International climate policy expert Mohamed Adow noted that the UK funded and profited from the expansion of fossil fuels in Africa for decades: “While (the UK) was reaping the benefits of decarbonising its own energy system it was shackling poorer nations with dirty fossil fuel infrastructure, which the world must now move away from.” If the continent is to pull off a leapfrog of its own, Adow argued, wealthy polluters now calling for Africa to harness clean energy must foot the bill. It won’t be chump change: in July 2021, for example, South Africa’s national power utility firm, Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd, put forward a $ US 10 billion plan to multilateral banks and agencies to help it transition to renewables. The oil and gas sector’s call for a gradual shift is drawing increasing opprobrium from a public greatly concerned with the environmental impact of fossil fuels and ever-more sceptical investors who prefer to fund clean energy projects. The Net Zero Investment Framework developed by the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change represents more than US $16 trillion. Some African countries are already positioning themselves to benefit from that gigantic pot. Previous COP hosts Morocco, and South Africa are making big strides in the hydrogen space; others have turned their attention to solar and wind generation. bird story agency