In Ethiopia, Africa hopes to speak with one voice on climate change
All of the continent's countries are meeting in Addis Ababa for the African Climate Summit. This year's objective: to find solutions, as the continent is the first victim of climate change and promises of financing from rich countries continue to be delayed.
More than 45 heads of state, 25,000 participants, and billions of dollars in waiting: until September 10, Ethiopia is hosting the second African Climate Summit.
While in 2022 the conclusions of COP 27 , which took place in the seaside resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, in Egypt, led to the creation of a fund for “losses and damages”, the payments promised by the most developed countries to the poorest are still pending.
The United Nations (UN) estimates that the most vulnerable countries need $395 billion to adapt to climate change. Currently, only $361 million is available, out of the $789 million pledged by the richest countries to offset greenhouse gas emissions, of which Africa represents only 4% of the global greenhouse gas emissions.
Faced with this lack of response, The Daily Nation points out that “African countries have already spent an average of 5% of their gross domestic product per year – and many of them have been forced to allocate 9% of their budget – to deal with extreme weather events.”
The African Union has therefore organized this summit under the auspices of unity: it could lead to a declaration
Courrier International
