Double efforts to help African countries deal with impacts of climate change – Ban Ki-Moon tells developed countries
Former Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon, has called on the western world to double efforts aimed at helping African countries deal with impacts of climate change.
Speaking to norvanreports in an interview on the sidelines of the ongoing Africa Climate Change Adaptation Summit in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Mr Ban Ki-Moon averred western countries must develop strong political will to help Africa deal with climate change.
The former General Secretary’s assertion is premised on the fact that, despite contributing as little as 3% to global gas emissions, the African Continent is the most affected by climate change.
“We really need to re-double our efforts to help African countries adapt to climate change. Climate change is approaching much faster than one may expect.
“African countries’ share of global emissions is just less than 3% of the global total greenhouse gas emissions. But the brunt of these consequences are now being felt more by African people and that is why we have the African Adaptation Programme,” he noted.
“Climate change is more dangerous than Covid, and as such world leaders need to have strong political will to deal with it. We have to take actions to address climate change and the Africa Climate Change Adaptation Programme is one of the steps to dealing with climate change,” he added.
Globally, some $20 trillion is said to have been spent on mitigating the impacts of climate change.
Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has expressed hope of raising the needed $25bn from western development partners to implement climate change adaptation programmes and projects on the Continent.
The $25bn, when fully secured, will be used to implement the broader Africa Adaptation Acceleration Programme, which will see to the equitable distribution of climate change resilient projects across Africa.
Already, the western world has made available some $12.5bn in pledges to support the adaptation acceleration programme.
The African Development Bank has also set aside some $3.5bn to support the programme.
“We’re hoping to raise the money to do the adaptation, that’s why we’re here,” said President Akufo-Addo at the ongoing Africa Climate Change Adaptation Summit.
President Akufo-Addo is the leader of the African Heads of States delegation at the Summit and is leading the charge to demand the $25bn funds from the Western world.
