Africans tire of excuses on climate

Leaders tell COP27 that developed nations must honor funding pledges

African leaders have called on developed countries to help more in the fight against climate change, noting that Africa suffers some of the worst effects even though it is responsible for just 3.8 percent of global emissions.

The leaders, speaking at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP27, in Egypt, said the industrialized nations should honor their commitments to the continent to ensure tangible results.

In Sharm El-Sheikh, Kenyan President William Ruto spoke of the need for commitments on funding for mitigation and adaptation strategies to be met.

"As we speak, the pledge made 13 years ago in Copenhagen, committing $100 billion annually, remains unfulfilled," said Ruto, referring to the 2008 climate conference in the Danish capital. "Such egregious and unexplained default is a major cause of persisting distrust."

Ruto said the unfulfilled promises at international climate conferences, marked by stalling tactics from developed countries, are cruel and unjust.

He said that COP26, held in Scotland last year, established the Glasgow Dialogue to formulate funding arrangements for measures to prevent, mitigate and remedy loss and damage associated with climate change.

In Kenya, rising water levels in the Rift Valley lakes in 2020 displaced 75,987 households in 13 counties, causing a humanitarian crisis, the Kenyan leader said. "Loss and damage must therefore be addressed with a level of seriousness that demonstrates fairness, urgency and consideration," he said.

Ruto called on developed economies to decarbonize their production by directing industrial investments to Africa and making use of clean energy.

Despite the problems suffered by Africa, he said the continent has the potential to play an indispensable role in the planet's efforts against climate change. He said the continent's vast tracts of land, deep treasures of diverse natural resources, untapped renewable energy potential, and a young workforce are clear advantages.

In a similar message to the delegates, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said developing countries have not received the required multilateral support to face the challenges, including for climate change-induced damage.

"We need to acknowledge that the multilateral development banks and international financing institutions need to be reformed to meet the climate financing needs of developing economies," he said.

"We need to promote the use of non-debt instruments to ensure that developing countries do not have to shoulder an even greater debt burden," he said.

Ramaphosa said the fact that the global community was able to mobilize $17 trillion within two years in response to the COVID-19 pandemic indicates that the resources to meet climate commitments exist.

"It is our task at this COP27 to harness the political will and mobilize the resources for the just transition," he said.

Commitments urged

He said African economies are losing between 3 and 5 percent of their GDP to the effects of climate change. "Our common starting point is that all parties should honor their undertakings and commitments in line with the guiding principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities," Ramaphosa said.

Senegalese President Macky Sall also called for the fulfillment of climate change commitments, adding that the $100 billion pledge from Copenhagen should be doubled.

He said the richest countries must pay the most to save the planet from the impacts of climate change.

Sall said African delegates were attending the Sharm El-Sheikh conference in a spirit of responsible participation in the efforts to save the planet.