African leaders on Friday called on developed and richer countries to meet their financial commitments to help the continent adapt to climate change ahead of the UN World Climate Conference (COP27), which will be held in Egypt in Sharm El-Sheikh in November, reported The Africa News.
African ministers made their call in a communique at the close of a three-day forum in Egypt’s capital Cairo on Friday. The three-day meeting followed another summit on Monday in the Netherlands, aimed at supporting Africa in the face of climate change.
We urge “developed countries to fulfil their pledges in relation to climate and development finance, and deliver on their commitments to double adaptation finance, in particular to Africa,” the 24 leaders said in a closing statement.
Macky Sall, the chairman of the African Union (AU) and president of Senegal, noted that the absence of leaders of developed and industrialized countries in Rotterdam was setting a bad example to the world.
Earlier this week, former UN chief Ban Ki-moon noted that the African continent emits only some three percent of global CO2 emissions. But, African nations are among those most exposed to the effects of climate change, notably worsening droughts and floods.
The leaders said the financial aid was needed in view of the disproportionate impact of climate change and nature loss on the African continent.
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.
In 2021, Gabon became the first African country to receive payments from the Central African Forest Initiative for reducing carbon emissions through forest protection, a total of $17 million so far.
Africa is looking to push for better and standardized prices on carbon during the upcoming COP27 conference scheduled in November.
