Baku: The African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN) has reaffirmed its position, highlighting adaptation and climate finance as its top priorities. The 29th session of the Conference of Parties (COP29) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) opened Monday in Baku. In keeping with the conference whose theme is 'In solidarity for a Green World,' AGN Chair, Ali Mohamed underscored the importance of adaptation and climate finance, pointing out that the group has a clear mandate from its leaders to ensure fruitful outcomes on the two agenda items, in solidarity with the continent's 1.4 billion people. According to Kenya News Agency, Ambassador Mohamed stated, "As Africa, we will be firm for COP29 to deliver on climate finance and adaptation, regardless of the circumstances surrounding our participation and who we are as a group." He emphasized that AGN is representing the aspirations of 1.4 billion Africans and that they will ensure that they do not fail. The AGN Chair not ed the necessity for the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on Climate finance to align with the actual transition costs faced by developing nations, as the current frameworks substantially underestimate the capital required for nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) implementation across the continent. With a proposed quantum of USD 1.3 trillion as the minimum annual threshold for climate finance, the African Group has stressed the importance of delivering climate resources through concessional instruments and grants. Current market-rate mechanisms have proven wholly insufficient for addressing the scale of adaptation as well as the loss and damage responses required across Africa. "For us in Africa, adaptation means agriculture support, resilient water infrastructure, and universal health coverage for all, amidst an increased climate-induced disease burden, among other necessary development support," emphasized Mohamed. He highlighted the urgent need for enhance d climate financing and inclusion of health within the UNFCCC space in a more structured way. "The Africa Group is alive to the urgent need for enhanced climate financing support, with particular emphasis on grant-based and other non-debt-burdening financing models for the health sector in Africa," said Amb. Mohamed, stressing the need for structured inclusion and active participation of the health sector within the UNFCCC space. In addition to adaptation and finance, other priority areas for the African group include the critical need for formal recognition of Africa's special circumstances under the Paris Agreement. This highlights the asymmetry between the continent's minimal emissions (4 per cent of global emissions) and disproportionate vulnerability to climate impacts. The impacts are mainly seen in agriculture, water, energy, and health sectors. Other focal points are the push for the Just Transition work programme to reflect Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR -RC) principles in its operational frameworks; the call for the operationalisation of the Fund for Loss and Damage to support African countries in coping with the irreversible impacts of climate change and aid in the recovery of affected communities; and the finalisation of rules for carbon markets that are robust and deliver environmental integrity and the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement. COP29 President, Mukthar Babayev, described COP29 as the unmissable moment that can chart a new path forward for everyone, acknowledging the vast needs in terms of financial requirements. Simon Stiell, UNFCCC Executive Secretary, added that all governments must agree on a new goal for international climate finance that truly responds to the needs of developing countries, with public finance at its core. The African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN) is a technical body within the three-tier African negotiating structure, engaging in technical negotiations during the Conferences of the Parties (COPs) and i ntersessional negotiations on Climate Change. The current AGN Chair, Ali Mohammed, is also the special envoy on Climate Change at the Office of the President of the Republic of Kenya.