Covid-19 challenges Africa’s climate change goals – Ramaphosa

President Ramaphosa says Africa continues to be one of the most affected regions and frequently experiences phenomena associated with global warming.

PRETORIA, June 8 (ANA) – President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday said the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has created new, peculiar challenges for the African continent working towards the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

“On our continent, the pandemic has exposed our socio-economic vulnerabilities and increased debt burdens. It has created new challenges as we work towards the Sustainable Development Goals, responding to climate change as envisaged in the Paris Agreement, as well as attaining our Agenda 2063 aspirations,” said Ramaphosa.

“While the continent is dealing with the impact of the pandemic on human health, our societies and our economies, Africa continues to bear the brunt of climate change, with annual costs to African economies of between 3 to 5 percent of their GDPs on average.”

Ramaphosa said Africa continues to be one of the most affected regions and frequently experiences phenomena associated with global warming.

The president made the remarks as he addressed the virtual meeting of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC). Ramaphosa was chairing the meeting in his capacity as the co-ordinator of this continental structure.

The committee was established in 2009 by the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government to spearhead an African Common Position on Climate Change and ensure that Africa speaks with one voice in global climate change negotiations.

The committee’s deliberations this week form part of preparations for COP26, the 26th United Nations Climate Change conference, which will be held in the UK in November 2021.

Ramaphosa said progress in addressing the global challenge of climate change “can only be made when we all honour our mutual commitments and respect our common” but differentiated responsibilities.

“It is absolutely imperative that everyone must contribute their fair share if we are to limit global warming to the agreed target of well below two degrees, build the resilience of our economies and ensure the safety and well-being of our citizens,” he said.

“Therefore, at this critical juncture, Africa needs to speak with one clear voice to emphasise the primacy of multilateralism and to express our unwavering support for the full implementation of the UN Climate Change Convention and its Paris Agreement. We need a strong and well-coordinated common African position.”

He said Africa needs to adopt key messages that encapsulate its aspirations and work together in the spirit of unity and solidarity as a continent.

The AU Committee on Climate Change met after the recent virtual Climate Summit of World Leaders convened by US President Joe Biden in April, where a number of African leaders participated.

The summit reaffirmed that the international community needs to significantly scale up its efforts, raise the level of ambition and support developing countries with the means to implement climate actions.

Since its establishment, the CAHOSCC has been working with the African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN) and the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN) to advance the Africa Common Position on Climate Change at global forums and negotiations on climate change.

The Presidency in Pretoria said the CAHOSCC has over the years played a key strategic role in co-ordinating Africa’s Common Position on Climate Change and promoting the unity of Africa on climate change issues at heads of state and government level.

– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher