Deliver on climate promises, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres reminds rich countries

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks to the media at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, April 29, 2021. [AP photo] The United Nations (UN) has reminded developed economies to keep their promises of financial help to developing countries so they can address the climate crisis. Speaking at the 36th regular session of the African Union Assembly going on in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has told developed countries to fulfill the $100 billion promise made to developing countries, providing funds for loss and damage agreed upon at the last Conference of the Parties (COP 27), doubling adaptation finance, and replenishing the Green Climate Fund. "Deliver on plans for early warning systems to protect every person in the world within five years - including the six in ten Africans who lack these systems," Guterres said. He also pushed for a new debt architecture that provides debt relief and restructuring to vulnerable countries - including middle-income countries - while providing immediate debt suspension and write-downs to countries in need. He observed that multilateral Development Banks should transform their business model and accept a new approach to risk. This includes massively leveraging their funds to attract greater flows of private capital into your countries. "It means scaling-up guarantees and adopting first-loss positions in coalitions of financial institutions to support developing countries. And it means integrating disaster and pandemic clauses into all debt contracts," he said. According to Guterres the brutal injustice of climate change is on full display with every flood, drought, famine and heatwave endured on this continent. He said the countries least responsible for the crisis are feeling its most devastating impacts. Meanwhile, several African countries are demonstrating strong leadership on climate. Among the countries demonstrating leadership on climate change, he cited Kenya's green economy strategy, Congo's Just Transition Energy Partnership, South Africa's Just Transition Energy Partnership, and the African Union's ambitious Green Stimulus Programme. He expressed his encouragement by the leading role that African Small Island States are playing in championing the Great Blue Wall Initiative, which combines climate action, nature conservation, sustainable financing, and the development of the Blue Economy, as one continuum. "The world must decarbonize," he said He added that: "But we need to ensure that the transition to renewable energy is a just transition - one that addresses Africa's energy access and development challenges." This includes wider access to technologies like battery-storage systems, components and raw materials. He emphasised that the upcoming Transboundary Battery and Electric Vehicle Value Chain Initiative, organized by DRC and Zambia, is a good example of the kind of effort needed to find solutions. Guterres announced that In September, he will convene a Climate Ambition Summit on our pathway to COP28 in December. In this summit, governments, business and civil society will demonstrate their commitment to reach net zero "And I'll keep pushing for a Climate Solidarity Pact that mobilizes financial and technical support to accelerate emerging economies' transition to renewable energy and keep the 1.5-degree goal alive," he said Guterres said Despite strong cooperation between the UN and the African Union (AU), major challenges remain he recognized the enormous tests that Africa - and indeed our world - is facing on virtually every front. He urged all leaders across the continent and beyond, to make every possible effort in providing support to the AU to enable it to accomplish its objectives. He observed that Africa is poised for progress: "Agenda 2063. The Decade of Women's Financial and Economic Inclusion. The continent's abundance of natural resources. And its greatest advantage of all - its people, representing a diverse range of cultures and languages." The Secretary-General commended the strong emphasis placed on job creation and the African Continental Free Trade Area. He praised the potential of the initiative as a means to create new sources of wealth and employment, particularly for young people. This strategy, he noted, has the potential to fundamentally alter the economic landscape of the continent. Recently Guterres addressed the UN General Assembly in which he outlined the severe and interrelated challenges currently confronting the world. These challenges are considered to be the greatest ever experienced in many ways and he people of Africa are bearing the brunt of these crises. "A dysfunctional and unfair global financial system that is failing developing countries when they need it most. A cost-of-living crisis - exacerbated by the consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine," he said. He added: "Climate chaos - that the people of Africa did very little to cause - that is whipping up floods and deadly droughts, putting communities and lives at risk and displacing millions." He observed threats to peace and security often involve interests - and profits - that extend far beyond the continent's borders.

Deliver on climate promises, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres reminds rich countries

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