Moscow, Russia| Ali Daud Mohamed, Chair of the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN) and Special Climate Envoy of the Kenyan President, has visited Moscow for high-level discussions aimed at deepening Russia-Africa cooperation on climate action.
The visit underscores Africa’s push for equitable climate policies and the continent’s growing partnership with Russia in global climate diplomacy.
Africa’s Climate Challenge and Call for Fairness
During his engagements, Mohamed highlighted Africa’s disproportionate burden in the climate crisis.
“The historical contribution of Africa to greenhouse gas emissions is only about four percent of all accumulated anthropogenic emissions. Yet African countries are highly vulnerable to climate impacts and are under pressure to set more ambitious climate targets and to refrain from using their abundant natural resources,” he stated.
The talks focused on the current state of the international climate agenda, the challenges facing African nations in meeting climate targets, and potential strategies for ensuring a just and inclusive transition to a low-carbon economy.
High-Level Consultations on Climate Policy
Mohamed held extensive discussions with Ruslan Edelgeriyev, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation and Special Presidential Representative on Climate Issues, as well as Alexander Novak, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia.
Their dialogue centered on fair climate target-setting, the future of the global carbon market, and concerns over climate-related trade policies that could disadvantage developing nations.
Novak emphasized the need for a balanced transition strategy. “Both green and conventional energy can and should coexist and complement each other.” He stated
“Switching away from fossil fuels is not the only way to reduce emissions. A truly fair transition cannot be based on a ban on investments in fossil fuel projects,” Novak argued, stressing that national development priorities must be considered.
Russia and Africa to Enhance Climate Cooperation
One of the key outcomes of the visit was an agreement to develop a joint work plan aimed at enhancing cooperation between Russia and the African Union on climate action.
This initiative will involve collaboration with business communities from both regions to promote shared climate goals.
The Russian delegation also welcomed Mohamed’s proposal to revise the approach to Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), ensuring that African countries’ economic realities and development needs are factored into emissions reduction targets.
Criticism of Climate-Related Trade Barriers
Mohamed voiced strong concerns over climate-related trade restrictions such as the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (EU CBAM).
He argued that such policies place an unfair financial burden on African exporters while allowing historically high-emitting nations to impose costs on low-emission economies.
Andrey Melnichenko, a Russian business leader and key participant in the discussions, echoed these concerns.
He described the current global climate agenda as being in crisis and stressed the importance of strengthening climate diplomacy.
“The interests of Russia and Africa in the field of climate fully converge. Combining the voices of Africa’s 1.4 billion people with the capabilities of Russian diplomacy, science, and technological advancements could strengthen the push for fairer principles in the international climate agenda,” he remarked.
Scientific Collaboration and Carbon Market Development
The Russian delegation presented interim findings from the Russian National Climate Monitoring System, which has been gathering data on the country’s greenhouse gas fluxes.
Melnichenko asserted that scientific research should play a decisive role in shaping climate policies, revealing that Russia’s ecosystems absorb twice as much CO₂-equivalent as previously estimated.
He argued that this data should be leveraged in international climate negotiations to advocate for fairer emission reduction strategies.
Mohamed expressed Africa’s interest in obtaining reliable emissions and carbon removal data for the continent.
He suggested that this could become a flagship area of collaboration between Africa and Russia, furthering scientific and technological exchanges in climate research
The visit to Moscow marked a significant step in strengthening Russia-Africa ties on climate policy.
By advocating for fairer climate targets, opposing restrictive trade barriers, and exploring scientific cooperation, Mohamed and his Russian counterparts set the stage for deeper collaboration in the fight against climate change.
As Africa seeks to assert its interests in global climate discussions, partnerships like this could play a pivotal role in shaping a more balanced and equitable international climate agenda.
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