The leaders of two dozen African countries have urged wealthier nations to uphold their aid pledges so the continent can tackle climate change effects for which it shares little blame.
African ministers made their call in a communique at the close of a three-day forum in the Egyptian capital Cairo on Friday and two months before Egypt hosts the crucial COP27 climate conference in Sharm El-Sheikh in November.
The statment came barely few days after the United nations sent a final warning about drought in some African nations including Somalia which is fear to not receive the four consequative rain.
The federal government of Somalia also repeatedly asked the international community to accelarate their support to help communities affected by the drought.
The African continent emits only some three percent of global CO2 emissions, former UN chief Ban Ki-moon noted this week.
And yet African nations are among those most exposed to the effects of climate change, notably worsening droughts and floods.
The African leaders said the financial aid was needed in view of “the disproportionate impact of climate change and natural loss on the African continent”.
Africa not only has a “low carbon footprint”, they said, but it also plays a key role in capturing greenhouse gasses, including in the Congo Basin, which is home to the world’s second-largest tropical rainforest after the Amazon.
The communique urged rich countries to meet and expand climate pledges, and said poor countries should be able to develop economically while receiving more funds to adapt to the effects of climate change.
The document stressed “the need to avoid approaches that encourage abrupt disinvestments from fossil fuels, as this will … threaten Africa’s development”.
The role of gas in the transition to cleaner energy is set to be a key point of contention at COP27. Climate activists say it needs to be quickly phased out and replaced with renewables.
