Ramaphosa: Africa unfairly bears the brunt of climate change
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa says although they are not responsible for causing climate change, Africans are the ones who are bearing the brunt and the cost of the phenomenon.
Ramaphosa was participating in a virtual meeting of the African
Union Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change on
Sunday when he made the comment.
He said the Covid-19 pandemic had set back multilateral processes, including those around climate change.
"It is imperative that we do not lose momentum and that climate change is not relegated to the periphery of the global development agenda," he said.
"Africa is experiencing the worst impacts of phenomena
associated with global warming, such as droughts, floods and cyclones.
"Climate change impacts are costing African economies
between three and five percent of their GDPs. Despite not being responsible for
causing climate change, it is Africans who are bearing both the brunt and the
cost."
He added that last year, the continent spoke with one voice at
COP26 summit in Glasgow, Scotland.
"The complex Glasgow Climate Pact strives to strike the
right balance by accommodating the differing national circumstances and
capacities among the nearly two hundred parties. The aim is that all are
enabled and empowered to contribute their fair share as well as to enhance
their climate ambition.
"Developed economy countries have agreed to support the
implementation of just transitions that promote sustainable development,
poverty eradication, and the creation of decent work and quality jobs."
Ramaphosa said it was still a concern that the necessary
financial flows to enable developing economy countries to mitigate and adapt to
the impacts of climate change were still "vastly inadequate".
"A one-size-fits-all approach to complex issues, such as a transition from fossil fuels that disregard the realities on the ground in Africa, will simply not work, and is neither just nor equitable," Ramaphosa said.
