Kenyan President William Ruto called at COP27 for the recognition of the “special needs” of Africa in the fight against global warming, underlining the “nightmare” experienced by Africans and also the assets of the continent in this fight.
“Loss and damage is not the abstract subject of endless dialogue. It is our daily experience and the living nightmare suffered by millions of Africans,” said William Ruto on behalf of the Africa group, referring to the reluctance of rich countries to create a specific mechanism to help the poorest cope with the damage already caused by the impacts of global warming.
“It is therefore right and proper that this conference take the necessary steps to recognize the special circumstances and needs of Africa,” he added, listing the long list of disasters experienced by the continent, especially droughts.
“Over the past 50 years, droughts have killed half a million people and caused more than $70 billion in economic losses in the region,” he said.
“The Horn of Africa, including Kenya, is experiencing its worst drought in 40 years,” Ruto added, describing the “plight of millions of people.”
“Kenya’s famous wildlife has not been spared. Carcasses of elephants, zebras, wildebeest and other wildlife litter our parks. We have spent $3 million to bring them food and water.
“While this COP27 is taking place on our continent, which suffers a great deal of climate change and contributes the least to it, we expect this COP to address our key issues,” said Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema.
So “the long discussions at the COPs, with their delaying tactics and procrastination” that prevent results from being achieved, are “cruel and unfair”, said President Ruto, emphasizing on the other hand the assets of Africa.
“We want to advocate to developed economies to decarbonize their production by directing their industrial investments to Africa and using clean energy to produce for the world.”
“Beyond the legitimate priority concerns of resilience, lower emissions and loss and damage, Africa has a unique potential to play a much-needed positive role for the future,” Mr. Ruto argued.
To address these issues, as chair of the African negotiators’ group, he plans to organize a “continental summit on climate action” in 2023.
