KEEP THE PROMISE!

IN the fight against climate change, promises made must become promises kept. As we face escalating climate impacts, the ‘Keep Your Promise’ campaign has emerged as an important initiative, calling on global leaders particularly those from the Global North, to honour their climate commitments. Launched by the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance in the lead-up to COP28, the campaign seeks to hold nations accountable for the pledges made under the Paris Agreement, ensuring that commitments to tackle climate change become reality.

Led by young African climate leaders, the campaign focuses on five urgent areas: The Global Stocktake, Just Transition, Corporate Climate Accountability, bridging the Climate Finance Gap and achieving Global Adaptation Goals. These pillars are designed to drive a more sustainable and equitable future, ensuring that vulnerable communities, especially in Africa, are not left behind in the fight against climate change.

A comprehensive approach to climate action
At the core of the Paris Agreement is the Global Stocktake, a critical process that evaluates how well nations are progressing toward their climate goals. This assessment serves as a benchmark for determining whether countries are on track to limit global warming to well below 2°C. Unfortunately, the pace of progress has been slow, with emissions rising and climate impact worsening. The ‘Keep Your Promise’ campaign highlights the urgency of the Global Stocktake, emphasising that nations must not only report their progress but also accelerate their actions. Transparency and accountability are key, particularly for historically high-emitting countries, which have a greater responsibility to support vulnerable regions like Africa. The campaign urges these nations to translate their commitments into tangible actions that benefit communities already facing the brunt of climate change.

A crucial element of the campaign is advocating for a Just Transition; a green shift that protects workers and vulnerable communities as the world moves away from fossil fuels. While rapid decarbonisation is essential, it must be done in a way that does not deepen inequality or poverty, particularly in African countries that rely heavily on agriculture and resource-based industries. The campaign calls for climate policies that promote social justice, protect livelihoods, and create new opportunities for workers affected by the green transition. By ensuring that the benefits of climate action are shared fairly, ‘Keep Your Promise’ envisions a future where sustainability and equity coexist.

Corporations are major contributors to both the climate crisis and the solutions needed to address it. While some businesses have embraced sustainability, many continue to engage in practices that degrade ecosystems and worsen climate impacts. The ‘Keep Your Promise’ campaign advocates for stronger regulations and policies to hold corporations accountable for their environmental actions. By pushing for sustainable business practices and reducing corporate carbon footprints, the campaign aims to ensure that businesses are part of the climate solution, not the problem.

Bridging the climate finance gap
One of the most urgent issues the campaign addresses is the climate finance gap. Under the Paris Agreement, wealthy nations pledged to mobilise $100 billion annually by 2020 to help developing countries mitigate and adapt to climate change. However, this target has not been fully met. Many African nations, including Eswatini, continue to struggle to access the funds needed for effective climate action. The ‘Keep Your Promise’ campaign highlights the importance of closing this finance gap. Adequate and predictable climate finance is essential for developing nations to build resilience against growing climate impacts. The campaign urges global leaders to not only fulfil their promises but also to ensure that funds are delivered in a way that directly benefits communities most affected by climate change.

For many African nations, adapting to climate change is no longer an option; it is a matter of survival. The campaign stresses the urgent need to set and achieve ambitious Global Adaptation Goals that protect vulnerable populations from the worst effects of climate change. While reducing emissions is critical, adapting to the changes already happening is equally vital. The campaign calls for increased support to help countries build resilience through improved infrastructure, sustainable agriculture, and enhanced water management systems.
For countries like Eswatini, where climate change has significantly impacted water availability and agricultural productivity, such adaptation measures are essential. Without them, the most vulnerable communities will continue to face disproportionately harsh consequences.

A global call for action
The ‘Keep Your Promise’ campaign is not just a reminder; it is a call for global cooperation, accountability, and urgency. As climate impact worsens, the window for meaningful action is closing. African nations are stepping up, demonstrating innovative, locally-driven solutions to the climate crisis, but they cannot succeed without global support. World leaders must fulfil their promises, particularly on climate finance and adaptation, to ensure a just and sustainable future for all. With COP29 on the horizon, this is a critical year for climate finance. The path to a resilient, equitable future depends on the collective will of governments, corporations, and civil society to hold each other accountable and take bold, decisive action. Now is the time to keep your promise, for future generations, for a better tomorrow, and for the planet we all share.

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