At the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, UN Secretary-General Guterres called on the G20 countries to take the lead on climate protection. In order to finance it, the global financial system must also be corrected.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for more climate justice at the first Africa climate summit. “Quantum leaps” are needed to slow down global warming, Guterres said in the Kenyan capital Nairobi. That is only possible if “the biggest polluters take the lead,” he emphasized, referring to the G20 countries, which are responsible for 80 percent of CO2 emissions.
Developed countries must create a “clear and credible roadmap” for phasing out coal and double their funding for climate adaptation, Guterres said. Developed countries should reduce their net carbon emissions to zero by 2040, while emerging countries should achieve this by 2050.
Guterres calls for correction of the global financial system
Guterres called for a “course correction” in the global financial system to speed up financing for climate action while supporting sustainable development. “That means an international financial system capable of providing an effective debt relief mechanism that supports payment moratorium, longer credit periods and lower interest rates,” Guterres said.
Developing countries need the ability to access private finance on a large scale and at affordable terms.
Von der Leyen pledges support from the EU
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also addressed the financing of climate protection. Public funds are not enough for ecological change, said the politician. It must therefore be a question of how private investments can be mobilized for Africa. In addition, it is important to talk about carbon pricing and setting global goals for the energy transition.
In view of the forthcoming world climate conference in Dubai (COP28), von der Leyen promised the African states the support of the European Union. She wanted to promote Europe’s offer to be an ally at COP28 “and to work with you on all the issues on the agenda there,” she said in Nairobi.
Climate summit with Africa in focus for the first time
The summit, hosted by Kenya’s President William Ruto and the African Union, will be attended by African heads of state and representatives of the United Nations, governments from other regions of the world, non-governmental organizations and the private sector until Wednesday. It is the first time that a climate summit is primarily about Africa.
The world climate conference COP28 takes place from November 30th to December 12th in Dubai.