The 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) ended on Friday November 18 and almost 200 countries struck a landmark deal to launch a fund to support nations worst-hit by climate change, reports BBC Africa.

This deal, which activists from affected nations had been advocating for for 30 years, states that wealthy and most polluting nations pay compensation to poorer nations — a potential turning point that acknowledges vast inequities in the climate crisis.

African women environmentalists and human rights activists were at the frontline of these demands as the continent suffers from extreme consequences of the climate crisis, with African women bearing the brunt of catastrophes due to cultural discriminations, disproportionate care work, and lack of ownership rights.

Namibian activist Ina Maria Shikongo told UN News: “Our governments keep on borrowing funds just to be able to support communities when we are the least responsible for the climate crisis. Namibia is a carbon sink, so that means that the global North, they do owe us climate reparations.” 

Zambia's environment minister, Collins Nzovu, described the deal as a "very positive result for 1.3 billion Africans.”

The overarching agreement from COP27 maintains the commitment to limit global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. However, UN Secretary General António Guterres says that this agreement does not address the need for drastic reductions and the planet is still "in the emergency room".