Climate summit: Africa between expectations and urgent action
In Cape Town, South Africa, young people demonstrate during the Global Climate March.
September 20, 2019 (illustrative image).
REUTERS / Mike Hutchings
Text by: RFI Follow
5 mins
The fight for the climate is at the heart of an international virtual summit organized over two days by US President Joe Biden, on the occasion of Earth Day.
On the African continent, signs of disruption are increasing.
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The
first Joe Biden announcements
indicate a desire to reduce carbon emissions.
To lead by example, Biden announced that the United States would be prepared to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030, double its previous commitment.
A position that signals the return of the United States in the global fight for the climate.
But in Africa, the stake is elsewhere ...
Of the 40 leaders invited to this virtual summit, five come from Africa: the presidents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria and Gabon.
Gathered for this new summit "
of the last chance
", they intend to make the voice of Africa weigh.
There, in fact, it is already a question of adapting to climate change.
Because the consequences of global warming are already clearly visible on the continent: droughts, floods, cyclones, and even frequent locust invasions.
The vulnerability of African countries to disasters has been highlighted by the health crisis, insist environmentalists, who call for a sustainable economic recovery.
To face it, it will take resources.
A message that African leaders are likely to recall, as is the $ 100 billion green fund promised by rich countries, but never paid out.
African countries expect massive investments in renewable energy and reforestation projects, amounting to billions of dollars.
■
In Africa, "
we must face the events that already exist
"
Interview with Wanjira Mathai, Regional Director of the World Resource Institute.
What are the challenges facing Africa in the face of this climate crisis?
It is important to mitigate the effects that climate change is having on this continent.
This is why the decision to reduce carbon emissions is crucial.
But adaptation to climate change is also important.
This is one of the major challenges for Africa.
We must prepare for the crisis that awaits us and also face the events that are already happening.
For example,
the locust invasion in the East African region
, or the second largest cyclone in history
to ravage Mozambique
, not to mention the floods in the Sahara.
There is a lot of work to build Africa's capacity to deal with all of these events.
We know that African countries and Africa in general have contributed very little to the crisis we are going through.
I believe that
the pandemic has heightened the vulnerability
in which we find ourselves in the face of shocks due to the disruption of biodiversity, which are linked to the climate crisis.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta is one of five African heads of state attending this virtual summit. How do you see Kenya's role in the fight for the climate?
Kenya plays a very important role.
Its energy network comprises more than 80% of renewable sources.
But it is in the agricultural sector that we can do better.
There are many women working in this sector who depend on its development.
So we need to start taking advantage of some opportunities, like the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement that would allow women and other farmers to invest and participate in intra-African trade.
But we can also do better in restoring landscapes and protecting forests and vegetation.
You are the daughter of Wangari Maathai, nicknamed "
the mother of the trees
".
How do you continue his legacy
?
I am very inspired by the work she has been able to accomplish, by the progress she has been able to make in raising awareness among the Kenyan public about the preservation of the planet.
So much so that the environment has become a central issue.
Africa is a relatively young continent, so I am working very hard to make sure that efforts especially to replant trees can continue and that young people play a role in the future of the continent.
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