Guterres to COP29: Time is not on our side
He said every economy is at risk of far greater fury due to global warming.
2d agoEMMANUEL WANJALARealtime
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has lauded the inaugural Africa Climate Summit held in Nairobi on September 2023 at the ongoing COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Mudavadi said the progress made since the Nairobi declaration has continued to serve as a basis for Africa's common position in the global climate change process.
He said African countries have appreciated the interlink between development aspirations and climate action.
“The strides we have made to date are commendable but remain insufficient given the growing scale of the challenges we face as a continent, and the scope of action demanded of us,” he said.
“We must therefore up the game to turn all the commitments into concrete outcomes”.
Mudavadi noted that the aim of the Nairobi declaration reached at the first Africa Climate Summit was to transform the climate narrative from the usual blame game to win-win solutions for mankind and the planet.
He emphasised that the focus was on increasing exposure to climate change and its associated costs, both globally and particularly in Africa.
He stated that with the expectation of escalating climate crises in terms of frequency and intensity, urgent action is required to mitigate these challenges.
“We must mobilise the much-needed climate finance from both the public and private sources, in scale and with urgency, striking a balance between mitigation and adaptation to ensure economic and social resilience as well as planetary safety,” he told the high-level meeting in Baku.
“The replenishment of the African Development Fund (ADF) and International Development Association (IDA) is therefore critical to finance resilient infrastructure, expand energy access, and drive sustainable development across the continent.”
A robust ADF and IDA replenishment, he said, will enable energy access for over 300 million Africans thus ensuring development in a climate-smart way.
Mudavadi also called for reforms in the current global financial architecture including the introduction of debt-for-climate swaps, climate-specific funds, and restructured lending terms to enable Africa to respond effectively to climate emergencies.
Mudavadi urged African Countries to deepen partnerships with the African Development Bank, the African Union, and regional organisations to enhance coordination, share resources and streamline climate initiatives across Africa.
