President Hakainde Hichilema has asked the developed world to provide US$100 billion to support climate change mitigation measures especially in Africa, which he said is hard hit.
Mr Hichilema said there is need for developed countries to fulfil their pledge of providing US$100 billion annually to finance climate change adaptation measures.
President Hichilema said this last night when he addressed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) world leaders summit in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm, El-Sheikh.
The high-level segment for Heads of State and Government event is the 27th meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP27).
President Hichilema said Africa needs strong international partnerships and support in order to address the climate change threats facing the continent and the global community.
“For us to be able to maximise our contribution to addressing this global threat while at the same time safeguarding our people’s lives and livelihoods, we need strong international partnerships and support,” said President Hichilema.
He said Zambia, as the lead negotiator for African countries on climate change, will provide the necessary support in ensuring that collaborative efforts with the global community produce positive effects on addressing climate change.
Mr Hichilema observed that despite Africa contributing only four percent of global emissions, the continent is the most adversely affected by climate change.
President Hichilema observed that floods which recently affected countries such as Chad and Nigeria, and the prolonged severe drought sweeping across parts of Africa demonstrate the reality and threat of climate change on the continent.
He has since urged the climate change conference to recognize ‘Africa’s Special Needs and Special Circumstances” regarding climate change.
He expressed optimism that the COP27 taking place in Africa will deliver significant progress towards the implementation of feasible climate actions that seek to address priority issues for Africa and other developing countries.
President Hichilema told the COP27 conference that African governments have made tremendous commitments to combating climate change as demonstrated through the submission of their updated nationally determined contribution in line with the Paris agreement.
He said African governments are spending substantial resources on addressing climate change emergencies such as droughts, floods and food shortages.
President Hichilema said Zambia has also submitted an ambitious, revised and updated nationally determined contribution in line with the Paris agreement to hold global average temperature to below two degrees while pursuing efforts to limit temperature increase to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.
Mr Hichilema has meanwhile challenged the conference to act now as the planet needs urgent climate change action.
“We have an obligation and a noble task to deliver for the future generations, for our planet, especially that we are meeting on our continent that is most in need,” he said.
He said climate change adaptation remains a top priority for Zambia as the country has placed significant actions that are addressing the effects of climate change.
“Zambia is already experiencing impacts of climate change and we expect this to continue in the foreseeable future. Our geographical location, coupled with low levels of adaptive capacity as well as multiple socio-economic challenges make the country highly vulnerable to climate change effects,” the President said.
President Hichilema added that, “it is therefore our hope that COP27 will deliver a milestone outcome in advancing the work programme on the global goal on adaptation that we adopted in Glasgow, Scotland in 2021”.
He revealed that Zambia has identified mitigation actions which will see the country transition into a climate smart green economy.
The Head of State further said Zambia is promoting diversification and expansion of renewable energy sources from the traditional hydro power to solar energy.
President Hichilema also appealed to investors to partner with Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in the electric mobility project to manufacture electric batteries and battery precursors as the global community transitions from fossil fuel propelled motor vehicles to electric vehicles.
Mr. Hichilema has meanwhile thanked Egyptian President Fattah El-Sisi for successfully convening the climate change conference and urged him to use his leadership of the COP27 to strive towards preserving the planet and protecting humanity.
The President is expected to attend high level discussions on climate change and other discussions on the sidelines of the COP27 Summit.
President Hichilema is expected to return home after concluding his engagements with other high-level delegates at the summit.
He will learn. They will never give $!00 billion to Africa. Climate Change is what they use to stifle African development. While they try to prevent Africa from using its own hydrocarbons, the Europeans are coming in to try and get them for themselves at cheap prices…
kamwendo munjila
asks developed countries to release US$100bn support for climate change mitigation measures
Oh so thats the reason he went there. To beg for money for programmes he doesnt even have
Good gesture but it’s paid by their taxpayers. You cannot push/force them to release the funds. Don’t be arrogant & sound relevant. Western nations are facing economic traumas, and what is their mind is not saving Africa, but sustaining their economies & people. Besides this $100B will be borrowed from private sectors. They also want to put forth stringent measures to ensure the funds don’t end up with corrupt presidents who will singularly give contracts to friends for Financing Climate Action. The USA has already taken 3 companies to court for prosecution who duped the US Government.
At the of appearing ignorant, I can say that this whole climate change issue has blown out of proportion and its ridiculous.
I can give several reasons based on scientific studies but I encourage everyone to go and do some research on there own. Climate change “catastrophy” and all the measures and money being poured into a black hole is a huge hoax that ultimately will lead to a global economic meltdown and we in the poorest nations will feel it the most.
How?
Not enough space here. But some research on the life expectancy of solar panels, how much environmental damage is done in setting up huge solar disposal. The yield per dollar of a huge solar farm vs let’s say a nuclear plant or even a hydro electric station.
Also research on how many predictions of a climate “apocalypse” we have had since the 20th century with preficted dates. How many have materialised?
We will spend billions investing in “Green energy” to achieve only a fraction of the energy requirements if the world. If I remember correctly net zero can possibly be achieved in 200hundred years after spending trillions. The world economy will collapse. But don’t take it from me. Do some research and number crunching.
Not referring to you, but we Africans have a tendency of…
Begging millionaire
Change must first come from within before you ask for money. Stop charcoal burning and destruction of forests such as forest 27. Ban plastics. Reduce fossil fuels usage by going electric. Stop mining in game parks which destroy ecosystems etc etc.
Africa, or Zambians are capable of solving its own problems,,,,,,,that is what we hear from opposition parties. The environmental issues should ba part of those problems that Zambians should be able to resolve without imperialist money….kaili
So,,Mr.President, that call does not align with the wishes of the Zambians.
OR
Are Zambians being hypocrites, that you call out the western to be imperialists ONLY when it suites you, the opposition parties?
We can not develop with such mindsets in our leaders …flying all the way to Egypt to go and beg surely Thomas Sankara is turning in his grave in anger plus where is the West going to get that amount when their people are struggling with bills govts are having to subsidies energy bills of each household in the UK because of the war in Ukraine. Our leaders should look at the war in Ukraine as opportunity to boost their agriculture instead of having leaders chasing other nations for pledges. Ask him what climate change migitation measures its is he wants to use the money for he wont have a clue until Mosanta come with more GMO seeds.
The USA is showing how provoking wars is profitable business……….
With the ukrain war……….
Business has never been so good for American arms manufacturers, and ……..
USA Oil and gas companies, who are making billions a month by substituting russian energy for europe with American energy……….business has never been so good………..
The rest of the world must make the Americans subsidise energy on the world markets for suport they give for this profittering war scheme…………
????? The USA did not start the Ukrainian war.
Wekton
They provoked it……….
They knew exactly what they were doing when they egged on ukrain government to be the most ati russian ever……….
GRZ what’s going on? Taxation without representation.
Instead of taxing the mines that are polluting the environment he goes to beg for money. Why give tax holidays then go and beg for money to the same people you are failing to tax. The same people you sold mines to at a song.
Not referring to you, but we Africans have a tendency of just accepting what the west says without actually looking at the data.
50 billion spent on Ukraine in one year due to the conflict there… Africa has several wars going on. And a continent of 54 countries goes to beg for 100 billion to be shared amongst them. I do feel the shame and a bit of anger about this. We have pretentious leadership. On the one hand, mining in a natural reserved park is allowed by the Mininstry of Green Economy saying that the mining will be environmentally friendly? Secondly, forest 27 gets to be regazzetted, but the wealthy owners are told to build their homes to preserve nature.
On the upside, what other option do we have? I just know there has to be something better than always asking for help.