During his visit to Lesotho, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres urged wealthy nations to fulfill their climate finance commitments to help poor countries combat climate change. He emphasized the financial needs of African nations, particularly amid a severe drought affecting millions. Guterres also advocated for increased African representation in the U.N. Security Council.
In his recent address to the Parliament of Lesotho, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on affluent nations to fulfill their pledges to assist impoverished countries in combating climate change. During his three-day visit to Southern Africa, which included a prior stop in South Africa, Guterres emphasized that the economic support required by poorer nations is crucial in facing the adverse impacts of climate change, particularly in Africa, which although contributes minimally to global warming, suffers immensely from its consequences. The Secretary-General noted that a recent agreement from U.N. climate talks mandated developed nations to provide at least $300 billion annually to developing countries, urging them to ensure that these commitments are met. He highlighted the vulnerability of landlocked and least developed countries like Lesotho, severely affected by ongoing climate-related disasters, including a significant drought that has led to a hunger crisis impacting over 27 million people in Southern Africa.
Guterres reiterated the importance of the newly established Loss and Damage Fund, suggesting it should be swiftly activated and generously financed by the countries responsible for climate change. He indicated that the existing drought and other climate-induced challenges, such as cholera outbreaks and floods in East Africa, underline the urgent need for this financial support. A report from the World Meteorological Organization stated that African nations are losing up to 5% of their GDP annually due to climate change, exacerbating their burden in the global context.
In addition to climate finance issues, Guterres expressed hope for Africa to secure permanent seats on the U.N. Security Council, stressing the need for representation for a continent home to over 1.4 billion people. He characterized the lack of African representation as an injustice, describing it as a remnant of colonialism that must be addressed. Guterres is expected to inspect the Katse Dam, a critical infrastructure project aimed at alleviating regional water shortages by redirecting Lesotho’s water resources to South Africa.
The article covers a significant diplomatic visit by U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres to Lesotho, where he addressed the pressing need for climate finance in developing nations. This is set against the backdrop of a worsening drought in Southern Africa and the global commitment made at recent U.N. climate negotiations, which fell short of the financial needs specified by developing countries. The overarching issues of climate change, economic disparity, and the need for African representation in global governance form the core context of Guterres’s appeals during his visit.
In summary, Secretary-General António Guterres’s visit to Lesotho highlights the critical need for financial commitments from developed nations to support poorer countries in their climate change efforts. His appeals underscore the profound effects of climate change on Africa, particularly amidst current drought conditions, and call attention to the inequities in global governance concerning African representation. The necessity for swift action on climate finance and support for vulnerable nations remains paramount.
Original Source: abcnews.go.com
