More than 300 Kenyan civil society representatives have written an open letter to the president of the East African nation William Ruto urging him to review some of the issues on the docket of the planned African Climate Summit, local media has reported.
Concerns have been raised about the sponsorship and funding of the summit, particularly the influence of US-based consulting firm McKinsey & Company. According to the drafters of the appeal, the sponsors could "divert the agenda from what Africa needs."
In total, Kenya's Climate Summit has around 40 partners, of which less than 10 represent the continent.
Media added that non-state actors are concerned that Africa is slipping from its focus on joining forces to adopt a framework to achieve the Global Adaptation Goal.
"The summit must press for increasing adaptation finance to Africa by more than double and ensure it is based on Africa’s needs and reaches the communities at the forefront of the climate crisis," Dr. Mithika Mwenda, executive director of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance told media.
Experts have also reportedly called on the summit to put Africa at the center and promote the divestment from fossil fuels by implementing "ambitious targets" for the promotion of renewable energy.
The summit, which will be held in Kenya from September 2 to 6, is expected to gather high-level policymakers, senior officials, climate change experts, civil society organizations and other stakeholders to deliberate on the climate action trajectories.