Madagascar Day at COP 28: Concrete solutions from Malagasy youth to face environmental challenges

Madagascar Day at COP 28: Concrete solutions from Malagasy youth to face environmental challenges.

^{December 15 2023}

‍Faced with the challenges and environmental issues of the Big Island, the holding of COP28 in Dubai was an opportunity for the Malagasy reforestation company Bôndy to highlight the concrete solutions, put forward during Madagascar Day, on December 3, 2023.

La Madagascar Day, a day dedicated to Madagascar on the occasion of the 28th UN Climate Conference of the Parties (COP 28) held in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, was a great opportunity for the Malagasy reforestation company Bôndy to give good visibility to the approach it is undertaking in favor of reforestation in the Big Island. During a series of exchanges and discussions about Madagascar's involvement in the fight against climate change, Bôndy underlined the country's vulnerability to climate hazards, and presented realistic solutions to the country's environmental challenges. Emphasizing the urgent need to act against climate change in Madagascar, the CEO and founder of Bôndy, Max Fontaine, states: “Climate change is already a reality on the Big Island, and is affecting a large part of the population. In fact, 80% of the latter is rural and therefore depends greatly on available natural capital. Natural disasters — such as floods, cyclones, or even drought — which are consequences of climate change, are more frequent and heavily penalize the country.”  

Solutions

The situation is, of course, alarming in Madagascar, but solutions equal to the challenges are well and truly within our reach, says the entrepreneur. “The Big Island is not present at COP28 just to victimize itself. We are here to demonstrate that Malagasy youth, with initiatives like Bôndy, are capable of offering concrete solutions that respond to the environmental, social and economic problems of rural populations on the Big Island.”, defended Max Fontaine, before detailing the approach in which his company is taking: “The projects we develop follow a holistic approach. Planting trees is a gateway to local communities. Our efforts then make it possible to develop basic infrastructures, as well as the establishment of income-generating activities. Our approach is long-term.” 

Innovative financing mechanisms

For Bôndy, COP28 was also an opportunity to look at innovative financing mechanisms that would more concretely benefit populations affected by climate change. “When we talk about the COP, we often talk about the release of several billion dollars. However, the populations we work with are little affected by these funds. Today, there is therefore a discussion about the development of new financing mechanisms that are more accessible. Carbon credit is one of them. The mechanism is certainly not perfect, and there is some reluctance. However, it is a way to develop large-scale community projects.” advanced Max Fontaine, before concluding on the importance of continuing to organize global climate conferences: “Some people think that the COP is useless, that it's just a series of meetings and conferences. However, last year's event allowed Bôndy to plant more than 3 million trees, with the support of a thousand planters. This year, COP28 should allow us to find partners to plant more than 14 million trees.”

For the reforestation company, this annual summit is thus an open door to a more sustainable development of the Big Island, provided that the solutions identified are applied in practice. At the beginning of 2024, Bôndy plans to organize a presentation around his participation in this global event.

Note that Madagascar Day at the Madagascar Pavilion on the COP28 site was marked by the presence of Malagasy representatives of the private sector and civil society as well as several members of the government: Rindra Hasimbelo Rabarinirinarison, Minister of Economy and Finance; Fidiniavo Ravokatra, Minister of Economy and Finance; Fidiniavo Ravokatra, Minister of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene; Valéry Ramonjavelo, Minister of Economy and Finance; Fidiniavo Ravokatra, Minister of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene; Valéry Ramonjavelo, Minister of Economy and Finance; Fidiniavo Ravokatra, Minister of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene of Transport and Meteorology, and Vina Marie Orléa, Minister of the Environment and Sustainable Development.