Africa is calling for fair treatment in the face of climate crisis affecting many livelihoods in the continent.
On a global scale, the continent’s contribution to greenhouse gas emission is under five per cent compared to over 80 per cent emitted by industrialized nations. At the ongoing Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, leaders call for proper valuation of the continent’s natural resources, restructuring of global financing architecture and release of more funds for green energy to mitigate climate crisis.
“Africa is home to some of the largest forests in the world, the forests play critical role in carbon sequestration,” noted Adesina Akinwumi, AFDB President. “Africa’s GDP has to be revalued based on the forests potential in freeing the world out of the greenhouse gases, a better GDP will attract more money for development in the continent,” he added.
The consequences of climate change has in recent past seen Africa pay heavy price, including re-channeling funds meant for development to fight famine, drought and floods in different regions of the continent.
The leaders called on heavy polluters to honour pledges made in previous climate meetings and double climate adaptation fund to assist the continent emerge from the effects of climate change. “Africa is in need of 3 trillion dollars for adaptation, we are yet to receive 100 billion dollars promised over the past decade, for instance,” noted Salva Kiir, South Sudan President.
Tanzanian President called for alternative solution in fighting the climate change effects. She noted that it is becoming very difficult to currently delink economy growth from climate change. “Consequences of climate change drags Africa’s GDP through drought, famine etc,” said Ursula Von Der Leyen, European Union adding that Europe supports reforms in multilateral institutions to help unlock funds for the continent.
She noted Africa needed more money to develop its clean energy-solar, wind and geothermal.
The Africa Climate Summit is being held in Nairobi this week, it has attracted a number of Heads of State and Government, pointing to a commitment in taming global warming effects disrupting lives across the globe.
The summit in Nairobi is being organized by the Kenyan government and African Union and is running in parallel with Africa Climate Week. Its theme is “Driving green growth and climate finance solutions for Africa and the world”.
President Ruto earlier urged African governments to increase their investments in green opportunities to unlock the continent’s potential.
He said Africa must prepare to become a global hub in the green industrial supply chain.
“We must see in green growth not just a climate imperative, but also a fountain of multi-billion-dollar economic opportunities that Africa and the World is primed to capitalise on,” he said.
“The continent has enough potential to be entirely self-sufficient with the mix of wind, solar, geothermal, sustainable biomass and hydropower,” he added.
Kenya, he observed, is leading the way in the adoption of renewable energy, which accounts for 92% of its power.
“Our ambition is audacious yet achievable: 100% renewable by 2030 and a 100 Giga Watt grid, entirely renewable, by 2040,” he said.
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