Africa’s big message at the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Egypt is that the countries responsible for causing climate change must pay up. A significant acceleration in adaptation finance is needed, considering the UN Environment Programme’s estimate that the 2020 target of US$100 billion a year won’t be met until 2025 due to rich countries’ unkept promises.
Better access to international financing is vital, but it’s equally important that African governments manage the funds accountably. The recent recurrence of devastating floods in Nigeria, and the country’s history of mismanaging its Ecological Fund, highlight the challenge.
In 2010, flood waters submerged about 90 000 hectares of farmland and in 2012, floods affected about seven million people. A year later, some 35 000 people were impacted, and in 2018, Nigeria declared a national disaster following severe floods.
And since last month, residents in 34 of the country’s 36…
