ADDIS ABABA– Insufficient financial assistance hinders African countries’ efforts to fight climate change, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has announced.
ECA Technology, Climate Change, and Natural Resource Management Division Director Nassim Oulmane (PhD) in his stay with The Ethiopian Herald expressed the urgent need for African nations to build climate resilience and integrate climate change into their national development visions.
In Ethiopia’s Green Legacy program on nature-based solutions to combat climate change, he praised Ethiopia’s efforts in utilizing its vast natural resources, including river basins and forests, to build resilience and achieve sustainable development goals.
The Green Legacy Initiative, particularly in the Afar, Amhara, Oromia, and Somali regional states, serves as a showcase for addressing the challenges of drought in the region, he said.
The director recommended that the country also to starts additional activities aimed at improving community health through the fabrication and distribution of clean cookstoves, which reduce exposure to indoor particulate pollution.
The lack of sufficient financial assistance from developed countries to underdeveloped poses significant obstacles for African countries that endeavor to combat climate change, impeding their progress and hampering their ability to implement effective solutions.
In the COP28 meeting, several encouraging promises and projects were made public. However, without quickly offering fresh, substantial, regular, and accessible funding, many of these plans will remain unfulfilled, he added.
“The country faces significant funding: nearly 5.9 trillion USD will be required for the implementation of nationally determined contributions by 2030, while 215 to 387 billion USD will be required annually for adaptation, and 4.3 trillion USD will be required for clean-energy investment. These are huge amounts of money that are not readily available from existing public funds.”
Also, the need for accessible, predictable, and new financing to bridge the financing gap required for implementing climate change initiatives.
Non-state actors, including civil society organizations, are playing a significant role in creating awareness of climate issues and advocating for climate justice in Africa. These efforts have given vulnerable groups, such as women, farmers, and the youth, a voice in shaping climate policies that directly impact their livelihoods, he added.
Oulmane further emphasized the significance of building climate resilience, integrating climate information into decision-making processes, and securing adequate financial support from developed nations. The Ethiopian Green Legacy initiative was also recognized for its positive impact on combating climate change and fostering sustainable development.
ECA will continue to support African experts working on a global goal for adaptation of the Paris Agreement and develop metrics for measuring the progress, he remarked.
BY FIKADU BELAY
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 30 JANUARY 2024
