The African continent wants joint efforts across the globe to implement policies that address climate change effects especially by collecting income to finance development and to deal with the effects of climate change.
This was made clear in the joint declaration of African leaders on Wednesday 6th September at the end of a three-day African Climate Change Summit held at the KICC in Nairobi.
The African leaders led by President William Ruto of Kenya challenged the international community move with speed and implement their commitments according to the global financing agreement that was first agreed at the Paris conference 14 years ago. The agreement mandates that no country in the world should find itself choosing between its development commitments and tackling climate change.
President William Ruto and the chairman of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki led other leaders in urging development partners to align their technical and financial resources with the aim to strengthen sustainable use of natural resources of the African continent.
A joint statement by African leaders was issued on Wednesday, September 6, at the KICC in Nairobi at the African Conference on Climate Change and is known as The “Nairobi Declaration on Climate Change” or “The African Leaders Nairobi Declaration” on Climate Change” was signed by a number of African heads of states and governments after three days of discussions and deliberations on the best way the continent would chat the way forward on matters climate change.
The international community has been asked to take immediate steps and reduce gas emissions, fulfill their part of the bargain especially on releasing funds to address climate change effects, implement previous commitments and help the continent fight climate change.
Presidents Salva Kiir of South Sudan, Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia, Ismaïl Omar Guelleh of Djibouti, Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea and Idriss Deby of Chad as well as the Prime Minister of DR Congo Sama Lukonde Kyenge were present during the declaration.
Other leaders present were the First Lady of Kenya Rachel Ruto, Deputy President’s spouse Pastor Dorcas Rigathi, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Angola Deputy President Esperança da Costa, his Namibian counterpart Nangolo Mbumba, Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland, former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo and about 66 ministers from different countries.
President William Ruto has described the first conference on climate change in Africa as a success as it is expected that the governments of several countries, the private sector, banks and philanthropists who committed to donate 23 billion dollars for projects will do so to deal with climate change and protect the environment across the continent. Africa.
The Africa Climate Summit was held between Monday 4th September 2023 and closed on Wednesday 6th September 2023 at the KICC in Nairobi.
By Keffas Ferdinand
