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Historically: Africa mobilizes against climate change

Historically Africa mobilizes against climate change

Africa and Climate Change: In a historic and unified display of solidarity for a continent that contributes only 5% to global emissions, more than 30 heads of state and government have committed to prioritizing measures that will help African countries adapt to the impact adapt to climate change and “build better ahead”.

Africa is now facing the double onslaught of climate change - currently estimated at $ 7-15 billion a year - and Covid-19, which has killed around 114.000 people to date. The African Development Bank estimates that the impact of climate change on the continent will increase to US $ 2040 billion per year by 50 and GDP will decrease by a further 2050% by 3.

During a virtual leadership dialogue organized by the African Development Bank, the Global Center on Adaptation  and the Africa Adaptation Initiative convened, more than 30 leaders rallied on Tuesday behind the bold new program to accelerate Africa's adjustment. The aim of the program is to mobilize US $ 25 billion to accelerate action to adapt to climate change across Africa.

Congo: Accelerating Africa's Climate Change Efforts

President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Chairman of the African Union invited his colleagues to “reconsider our climate ambitions and accelerate the implementation of our planned actions as part of our national priorities. To do this, we need to focus on measures to adapt to the effects of climate change, including nature-based solutions, energy transition, improved transparency framework, technology transfer and climate finance. "

The Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program is designed to address the effects of Covid-19, climate change and the continent's worst recession in 25 years. This is why today's unprecedented support for funding African adaptation is so significant.

UNOs Ban Ki-moon: Africa has to make up time for climate change

According to Ban Ki-moon, the 8th Secretary General of the United Nations and the chairman of the Global Center on Adaptation: “The Covid-19 pandemic's recent advances are eroding climate resilience in building and leaving countries and communities more vulnerable to future shocks. Africa needs to make up for lost ground and lost time. Climate change didn't stop because of Covid-19, and neither should the urgent task of preparing humanity to live with the multiple effects of a warming planet. "

Gabon: already climate positive?

President Ali Bongo Ondimba from Gabon and chairman of the African Union-led Africa Adaptation Initiative spoke about Gabun's record for emissions reductions - against Africa's climate change. He said Gabon is one of the few countries in the world that is carbon positive. “We must insist that climate adaptation and mitigation receive equal attention in climate finance. Africa calls on developed nations to take historical responsibility and join the program to accelerate adjustment in Africa, ”said President Bongo.

Africa's development bank calls for promised climate finance

The President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina said, “With our partners, we intend to mobilize US $ 25 billion for the success of the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program. It is time for developed countries to keep their pledge to provide $ 100 billion annually for climate finance. A larger part of this should be used for climate adaptation. So far, more than $ 20 trillion has flowed into Covid-19 stimulus packages in developed countries. The International Monetary Fund's plan to spend $ 650 billion in new Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) to increase global reserves and liquidity will be hugely helpful in supporting green growth and climate finance for economic recovery. I particularly applaud the leadership of the US government and US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen for this major advance. "

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said: "The African nations are showing leadership ... The Africa Accelerated Adaptation Program and many other ambitious African initiatives must be empowered to fully achieve their goals." Africa, which will be a priority in the coming years, could mainly be guaranteed through renewable energies. I am calling for a comprehensive package of support to achieve these two goals through COP26. It's achievable, necessary, overdue, and smart. "

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on behalf of US President Joseph R. Biden: “The United States remains a committed development partner for Africa and a great supporter of the African Development Bank. Africa has contributed the least to climate change, but suffers the worst of it. I congratulate the African Development Bank and the Global Center for Adaptation on developing the program to accelerate the adaptation of Africa. We support the program ... to ensure that together we can avoid the worst effects of climate change. "


The program to accelerate Africa's adaptation, launched by the African Development Bank and the Global Center for Adaptation, revolves around several transformative initiatives:

Climate Smart Digital Technologies for Agriculture and Food Security aims to improve access to climate-friendly digital technologies for at least 30 million farmers in Africa. The African Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator will increase investment in climate resilient urban and rural infrastructure in key sectors. This includes water, transport, energy and waste management for a circular economy. Empowering youth for entrepreneurship and job creation on climate resilience will provide climate adaptation skills to one million youth and help 10.000 small and medium-sized youth-run businesses create green jobs. Innovative financial initiatives for Africa will help fill adaptation financing gaps, improve access to existing finance and attract new investments from the public and private sectors.

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Photo / Video: Shutterstock.

Written by Option

Option is an idealistic, fully independent and global social media platform on sustainability and civil society, founded in 2014 by Helmut Melzer. Together we show positive alternatives in all areas and support meaningful innovations and forward-looking ideas - constructive-critical, optimistic, down to earth. The option community is dedicated exclusively to relevant news and documents the significant progress made by our society.

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