Industrialized countries around the world have committed to paying 100 billion US dollars in climate aid to African countries every year since 2020. But sometimes the payments are not made. Therefore, 24 states are now reminding of the commitments. The climate crisis is hitting the continent particularly hard, even though hardly any CO2 is emitted there.
Two months before the UN climate conference in Egypt, 24 African countries appealed to the industrialized countries to keep their promises for climate aid. “We urgently call on the developed countries to keep their commitments regarding climate and development financing,” said the heads of state and government of 24 African countries on Friday at the end of an international conference near the Egyptian capital Cairo.
The joint call went on to say that the rich countries must keep their promise to double their financial aid for climate change adaptation, especially for Africa. The money will be brought because of the “disproportionate effects of climate change and environmental degradation on the African continent”.
The signatories of the declaration highlighted that Africa has a “low carbon footprint” and on the other hand plays an important role in reducing greenhouse gases. In the Congo Basin, for example, there is the second largest tropical rainforest in the world after the Amazon rainforest in South America.
According to the statement, Africa accounts for only about four percent of global CO2 emissions. However, African countries are among the greatest victims of global warming, for example due to increasing droughts.
Financial aid for poorer countries to take measures to protect the climate and adapt to global warming will be a key topic at the UN climate conference that begins on November 7 in the Egyptian seaside resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. The promise of the industrialized countries to mobilize 100 billion dollars annually in climate aid for poorer countries from 2020 has so far not been kept.
According to the African Development Bank, the continent will need 1.6 trillion dollars for climate protection and climate adaptation measures between 2020 and 2030.
