President Hage Geingob has urged developed countries to scale up climate financing to N.dollars 100 billion a year from 2025, stressing that industrialised countries of the west are the main drivers of the climate crisis.
Speaking at the US-Africa Leaders’ Summit themed ‘Advancing Synergies between the United States and African Countries in Just Energy Transition’ in Washington DC, United States of America on Tuesday, Geingob said there is a need for equal partnership between industrialised countries as gross emitters and the developing world as victims of emissions.
“Africa emits less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere but is regrettably disproportionately affected by climate change and the long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. As a consequence, Namibia, for example, has experienced severe droughts in the past five years, of which one was recorded to have been the worst in a century,” he fumed.
Geingob called for the even splitting of climate financing between adaptation and mitigation, noting that the global market system set up under the Paris Agreement should go to the Adaptation Fund, to finance projects and programmes in developing countries.
The head of state further said the ambition of 1.5°C is urgent to avert a climate crisis with devastating effects on shared humanity, which is why he is calling on developed countries to provide the means of implementation and support for the effective implementation and enhancement of nationally determined contributions by developing countries.
He also called for the support of the acceleration of climate technology transfer; by creating access to information and knowledge on climate technologies; and fostering collaboration among climate technology stakeholders.
“Africa has the potential to become a key player in the global energy market and we should seize the opportunity by doing the right things at the right time. With the right kind of collaborations and partnerships, the time has come to ensure that no one is left behind in our ambition of energy for all. Let us hold hands and work together to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all,” said Geingob.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
