Are African countries united on climate change?

This week the first ever Africa Climate Summit took place in Nairobi, to discuss ways the continent can respond to the threat of climate change .

At least 23 African heads of state and government joined thousands of delegates at the summit, with a goal to influence climate commitments, pledges and outcomes.

At the close of the summit on Wednesday, the African leaders adopted a joint declaration outlining the continent’s position on climate finance and green growth.

In the declaration- the African leaders proposed new taxes across the world to fund action against climate change.

The heads of state say the declaration will form the basis of their negotiating position at November's COP28 summit in Dubai. They've proposed taxes on shipping, aviation and the trade in fossil fuel. Although the summit was largely hailed as a success, there has been outcry over the small number of African heads of state and governments who attended.

Civil society groups say they were side-lined, and claim the process of preparing the summit was hijacked by western influencers.