Africa Climate Summit: Former Heads Of State Make Push For $20.5 Million Per Year Nature Fund
- The former heads of state, ministers, diplomats, and scientists are under the Campaign for Nature Steering Committee umbrella
- Ethiopia's Hailemariam Desalegn said that there is a dire need for the Global North to begin to value and support the Global South
- Ruhakana Rukunda, Uganda's former prime minister said the success of the Summit would require prioritising nature conservation
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Nairobi – A group of former heads of government has intensified the climate finance campaign on the sidelines of the inaugural Africa Climate Summit (ACS) 2023 happening at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).
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Ivan Duque (Colombia), Hailemariam Desalegn (Ethiopia), and Ruhakana Rukunda (Uganda) called on leaders and ministers to ensure the nature finance commitment made at the COP15 to deliver at least $20.5 million per annum from developed countries by 2025 is given the prominence it requires.
The COP15 took place in Montreal, Canada, in December 2022.
The three world leaders highlighted that the climate and biodiversity crises are deeply interrelated and stressed that no efforts to combat climate change will succeed without sufficient attention to nature conservation.
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Who are Campaign for Nature Steering Committee members
Former heads of state, ministers, diplomats, and scientists who make up the Campaign for Nature Steering Committee called on governments to act with greater urgency to confront the alarming loss of nature and prioritise efforts to increase nature's financing.
The summit, convened by the African Union (AU) and hosted by Kenya’s President William Ruto, is themed ‘Driving Green Growth and Climate Finance Solutions For Africa And The World’.
“At this Summit, we have heard a lot of talk and announcements on private finance and credits for climate action. While innovative finance mechanisms with integrity are welcome, they cannot be used as a proxy or substitute for developed countries to meet their promise of KSh 3 trillion in nature finance to developing countries by the fast-approaching deadline of 2025,” said Duque, the former president of Colombia.
Desalegn, the former prime minister of Ethiopia, observed that there is a dire need for the Global North to begin to value and support the Global South’s stewardship of biological resources and ecosystem services.
“The Global North must move fast to devise a strategy so that this KSh 3 trillion promise is delivered by 2025,” Desalegn said.
How much money is US offering Africa
On his part, Ruhakana, the former prime minister of Uganda, said the success of the Summit would require prioritising nature conservation alongside actions to swiftly curb carbon emissions.
“Leaders this week must send a strong signal that the world must deliver on its promises on nature finance, not only to help prevent the extinction of a million species or to support our economies but as a crucial component of the global strategy to combat climate change,” he said.
Akufo-Addo demands more from developed countries
YEN.com.gh reported that President Nana Akufo-Addo called on developed countries to support African countries financially to fight climate change.
Speaking at the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, Akufo-Addo said, although Africa contributed very little to global warming, the continent faces the biggest brunt of its effects.
At the end of the Africa Climate Summit 2023, African leaders also issued a declaration proposing new taxes across the world.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
