- Lake Chad crisis breeding insecurity – Lawal
By Chuks Oyema-Aziken (Baku, Azerbaijan)
African Ministers attending COP29 have lamented that the continent is suffering what was caused by other countries, especially the developed countries.
They made their mind known at a press briefing at the ongoing COP29 on Tuesday, where calls for more climate finance for vulnerable countries resonated.
They demanded that the polluting countries turn words into action
Mohammed Saidykhan, Head of Building Power Department, Climate Action Network International who anchored the session said adaptation finance has been totally ignored or not gained level of attention needed.
He noted that only 6.1 billion dollars was pledged out of the target 380 billion dollars for 2024.
For 2023 target, he said the adaptation finance agreed during negotiations was not reached.
“Our countries in Africa struggle to adopt to climate finance,” he said.
According to the Minister from Sierra Leon, Jiwoh Abdulai “It’s clear who is responsible for this problem. Science is pretty clear on how much it is going to cost. We are asking for $1.3 trillion annually so we will stop bleeding dry because of climate change. We are talking about lives here.
Minister of Green Economy and Environment (Zambia) Hon. Mike Elton Mposha said 50% projected farm harvest have been ruined because of climate change.
While the Gambia Minister said : “These developed economies have been built on the backs of polluting the climate… clear market failure to provide funding for adaptation” o Gambia: “I am speaking like a dying man”
Meanwhile, at the briefing Nigerian Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal said the Lake Chad crisis is one of the major causes of insecurity in the North East region.
He stated this at a press briefing by some Environment Ministers from Africa attending the ongoing COP29 in Baku Azerbaijan.
Lawal re-emphasized that COP29 is about finance, saying the continent is suffering from climate change.
