World climate conference COP24: Africa’s Moment of truth

Drought, heavy rain, heat: Africa suffers from climate change more than any other continent. The African Delegation is traveling, therefore, with high expectations for COP24 to Poland – and could be disappointed in the return.

The climate of Africa, prospects are bleak. “As sad as it is: African countries contribute to climate change the least, but suffer the most,” says Seyni Nafo, spokesman for the African Delegation at the world climate conference, to DW. The continent groans already. Droughts, heavy rain and Floods belong in many places, everyday life – with dire consequences.

The damage to destroy, depending on the country, between five and ten percent of the gross domestic product. “The people on the street have not felt that previous climate conferences had any impact on your life. The consequences of climate change you will notice, however, every day,” complains the Nigerian environmental activist Nnimmo Bassey in a DW Interview.

“The most important climate change conference”

The worst is the continent, to warn the United Nations, in 2020, could suffer up to 250 million people due to rising temperatures under severe water shortage. The increase above two degrees Celsius, half of all Africans could be affected by malnutrition. “Climate change has the potential to make our development destroyed,” warns negotiators Nafo.

In Katowice, the resolutions of the Paris conference is to be set

The world climate conference COP24 to bring the turn. From the 2. December, delegates from around the world will meet in Poland. “From my point of view, it is to Paris 2015 the most important conference on climate change,” says James Murombedzi, climate expert at the UN economic Commission for Africa. Now, a detailed rule will be adopted, the work, the main objective of Paris: global warming is supposed to be 1.5 degrees Celsius is limited. This can only work, if in 2050, no greenhouse gases are emitted and significantly less. To do so, experts warn the measures already taken by the international community is not rich but a long time ago. You are calling for binding rules.

In addition, the African Delegation has a second promise of Paris. At that time, the States parties to the said poor countries AIDS in the adaptation to climate change. From 2020 to industry States for 100 billion dollars a year to pay. Here, too, there are no concrete Commitments. “We will ensure that the promised funds are really” promises negotiator Nafo.

A lot of money is needed for Africa’s agriculture against climate change, resistant to

Some experts even believe that even 100 billion U.S. dollars per year are too little. Because Africa lives off agriculture. The must be made with a lot of money climate. For example: “More investments in irrigation systems are needed,” says UN expert Murombedzi. Civil society wants something to change. Activist Bassey:”this is not about charity, but about justice.”

“The Planet burns”

These goals can be realized? The United States is ultimately descended from the climate Treaty. “Climate change is a common challenge that can only be solved together. We are seeing great interest in many countries to save the multilateral process,” says a hopeful Nafo. Nevertheless, COP24 not a self-runner is: “to fight climate change: The functioning of the economy rebuild systems to change the lifestyle of entire societies in terms of their consumption, their mobility. Especially in the highly developed countries, it does not seem to be enough political will to bear the necessary costs”, warns UN expert Murombedzi.

Environmental activist Bassey remains sceptical as to whether COP24 will bring the turnaround. “I hope that the delegates will be from your heart and not from any political considerations. If not, then this is just another climate conference, like many others, to be screwed to a Problem around while the Planet burns.”

Staff: Abu-Bakarr Jalloh


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