President William Ruto has called for global collaboration in addressing global warming challenges that have ravaged the continent and the globe at large.
Addressing the Africa Climate Summit at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi on Tuesday, the president stated that countries cannot approach climate action and human development “from a disconnected or in an adversarial manner” to make substantial change.
“We cannot pursue climate action through insular, solitary policies. Global warming cannot be mitigated by air-conditioning our little pockets and corners of the world. Prosperity cannot and must not be pursued in a zero-sum, exclusive fashion, because the resulting injustice and inequity are the drivers of inequality, poverty, conflict and activities that threaten biodiversity and encourage pollution,” Ruto told the summit.
“We are all interconnected, and this existential moment provides us with a unique opportunity to reconnect with our shared humanity.”
President Ruto termed the summit, which kicked off on Monday and runs until Wednesday, a prequel to this year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) scheduled for November 30 through December 12 in Dubai.
“It is an orientation run designed to familiarize us with our journey into a future driven by African solutions, powered by Africa’s resources and anchored on African opportunities,” he told delegates.
“This event is both Africa’s Climate Summit and a global pre-COP28 convention. Africa is meeting, and Africans are talking: the world is listening. We must use this opportunity to lead the world in a new direction towards a future that holds immense promise for both Africa and the entire world.”
The president termed this time in history as a “moment of existential urgency of all humanity” and urged African countries to tackle climate change with the seriousness it deserves.
“We have our ancestors’ permission to innovate a way to not only go fast but also together, provided we consult thoroughly, engage in good faith, collaborate effectively and proceed inclusively. This is an emergency, and we must undertake climate action and green growth with this understanding,” Ruto said.
The Africa Climate Summit is themed “Driving Green Growth and Climate Finance Solutions for Africa and the World.”
The convention was organized by the African Union Commission in collaboration with the Kenyan government to give African states the chance to develop specific plans, design identical and parallel resources and investments, push for changes in the global financial system, share knowledge and workable solutions, and update Africa’s development and climate vision.
On Tuesday, the United Arab Emirates announced $4.5 billion (Ksh.656,400,000,000) in clean energy investments in Africa.
The three-day summit has attracted heads of state, government and industry, including leaders from Mozambique and Tanzania, as well as United Nations head Antonio Guterres, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and US climate envoy John Kerry.