KAMPALA, Uganda , — African leaders and campaigners have urged the international community to do more for poorer and more vulnerable countries to adapt to climate change. They seized on evidence that the continent is most at risk from the effects of global warming.
Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi (head of the African Union) said that half the $25 billion needed by the continent to fund an adaptation program in the next five-years must come from other parts of world. The African Development Bank will contribute the balance.
Tshisekedi spoke Tuesday at an Africa-focused summit of the U.N. climate conference, which took place in Glasgow, Scotland. Tshisekedi was one of many leaders to highlight Africa’s problems in the face climate change, despite the fact that Africa is the least populated continent.
Tshisekedi stated that the global effort to combat climate change cannot be won without winning in Africa, which has 1.3 billion inhabitants. The 54 African nations account for only 3% of the global emissions. This surprise is shocking to many ordinary Africans.
Tshisekedi stated that the $12.5 billion Africa must raise to fund climate-adaptation project.
He stated that he hoped the money would come in before the next climate conference, which will be held in Africa.
Already, world leaders have pledged to adapt efforts. It remains to be seen how much money will be raised for Africa after the two-week conference in Glasgow.
Some campaigners and leaders in Africa are putting pressure on the government, noting that a pledge to raise $100 billion for Africa has never been fulfilled.
“We don’t need more facts. Akinwumi Adesina, President of African Development Bank, stated that we need more financing.
Patrick Verkooijen is the chief executive of the Netherlands-based Global Center on Adaptation. He stated that Africa must adapt or die. Noting that climate change effects are “at Africa’s doorsteps” today, Verkooijen said.
Alok Sharma, a British official, is leading the climate conference called COP26. He spoke out about Malagasy women in Madagascar facing a “bleak future” due to climate change.
He said, “The need for justice is severe and great.”
Other speakers Tuesday included U.S. Secretary Antony Blinken who stated that adaptation efforts are “a priority” for Washington. Kristalina Georgieva, International Monetary Fund’s Managing Director, called for the elimination of barriers to women empowerment as part of larger efforts to increase Africa’s resilience to climate change.
Eze Christiana, a Nigerian woman living in Nairobi, Kenya, stated that she does not believe it is necessary to meet and discuss climate change.
She said that global warming is something we can adapt to and see as it is.
According to a report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and other U.N agencies, Africa’s population remains “extremely vulnerable” as it warms faster than the global average.
Tuesday’s statement by the International Rescue Committee stated that Somalia and other African countries in which it operates faces “the sharp end” of the climate crisis, including emergency situations resulting from current levels of global warming.
In a statement, the humanitarian group stated that the international community must invest to ensure climate resilience and prevent famine.
Kurt Tjossem (the group’s vice-president for East Africa), stated that they are concerned about the effects of continued drought and conflict on vulnerable people throughout the Horn of Africa. This is where a large portion of the population depends heavily on crops to eat, and sell them for their livelihoods.
Somalia is one example of this. After a failed harvest, about 3.5 million Somalians face hunger, and farmers who depend on their livestock are seeing their animals starve daily.
