At COP29, Claver Gatete, Executive Secretary of the ECA, emphasized the urgent need for climate action in Africa, highlighting the significant economic losses the continent suffers due to climate impacts. He proposed a strategic five-step plan to transform Africa into a leader in green growth, which includes leveraging mineral resources, enhancing carbon capture, and establishing ambitious climate finance targets. Gatete’s call highlights the necessity for global support and partnership to secure Africa’s sustainable future against climate change challenges.
At the COP29 climate summit in Baku, Claver Gatete, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), urgently urged world leaders to take action against climate change, emphasizing that the cost of inaction will outweigh necessary investments for a sustainable future in Africa. He highlighted that African economies are suffering significant losses due to climate impacts, averaging 5% of GDP annually, with some nations experiencing losses of up to 15%. Gatete presented a strategic five-point plan aimed at transforming Africa from a vulnerable region into a leader in green growth. This includes leveraging the continent’s rich mineral resources critical for the global clean energy transition, enhancing carbon capture through nature-based solutions, establishing ambitious climate finance targets, accelerating the clean energy transition, and calling for definitive global action to limit emissions. Climate change is increasingly evident on the continent, with rising sea levels and prolonged droughts leading to severe socio-economic challenges, including the displacement of millions into poverty due to climate-driven disasters. Gatete remarked that Africa’s challenges extend beyond economic losses, with climate stress impacting healthcare systems and exacerbating food insecurity. The ECA Executive Secretary articulated the first step as utilizing Africa’s critical minerals—such as cobalt and lithium—to stimulate economic growth and support the global clean energy transition. He cited collaborative initiatives in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia as successful models. The second focus of carbon capture through nature-based approaches underlined the need to protect Africa’s ecosystems, notably the Congo Basin, which acts as a significant carbon sink. Gatete urged a robust New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for climate finance, advocating for the proposed $1.3 trillion per year to support Africa’s climate initiatives. He underscored the necessity of involving private investment and restructuring financial systems to alleviate African nations’ burdens. His call for accelerated clean energy solutions posited that Africa, which emits less than 4% of global greenhouse gases, holds vast potential for renewable energy development due to its rich natural resources. Despite a promising outlook, Gatete warned that the urgency for action is critical, as hesitation from wealthier nations in meeting climate finance commitments jeopardizes progress. Moreover, Gatete emphasized that failing to invest in climate resilience now could lead to dire economic consequences, stating that for every dollar spent on adaptation, there are potential returns of four dollars in various benefits. He highlighted that the moral obligation rests on the global community to support Africa in combating climate change, as it disproportionately shoulders the resulting adversities despite its minimal contribution to global emissions. Speaking to an audience composed of global leaders and stakeholders, Gatete insisted that international collaboration is vital, calling for an end to ineffective practices that impede progress. He expressed optimism for an Africa equipped not merely to survive but to thrive, leveraging sustainable resources and innovative talent to combat climate issues. The choice remains stark: prioritize investments for a resilient future, or face escalating socioeconomic repercussions resulting from climate inaction.
The urgent call to action by Claver Gatete during COP29 underscores the pressing climate change issues faced by Africa, a region marked by significant contributions to global emissions while suffering disproportionately from environmental challenges. The effects of climate change are tangible and far-reaching, with rising sea levels, droughts, and unpredictable weather patterns greatly impacting food security, health care, and economic stability across the continent. African nations face compounded losses that threaten to deepen their debt and economic vulnerabilities, indicating an immediate need for global financial support and collaborative strategies to foster resilience and sustainability.
In summary, Claver Gatete’s address at COP29 serves as a clarion call for urgent global action to address the profound impacts of climate change on Africa. His five-step strategy is not only a roadmap for overcoming climate vulnerability but also a strong demand for the equitable distribution of climate finance. As climate challenges continue to escalate, the international community must rally to support Africa’s commitment to sustainable growth and ensure the continent can lead in the transition to a greener future. The stakes are unfathomably high; urgent investment now can help avoid an even graver crisis tomorrow.
Original Source: www.uneca.org
