adminFaith Mandizha
DEVELOPED countries are proving to be a setback in tackling climate change as witnessed by an increase in emissions to meet their energy generating demands.
Officiating at the post COP27 National Stakeholder Workshop on behalf of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister, Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndhlovu, Permanent Secretary, Raphael Faranisi, highlighted the impact of climate change across all socio-economic sectors of the economy.
“There is need to tackle droughts affecting the agriculture, water, health and energy sectors to floods destroying infrastructure and causing loss of life.
“Increasingly, some of the impacts are resulting in unavoidable losses and damages, no matter how much we invest in adaptation.
“The fact that we are still recovering from impacts of previous cyclones (Dineo 2015, Idai 2019), mitigating climate change remains an important element of climate action.
“Reducing emissions is the ultimate answer to solving the climate crisis.
“However, 2022 has seen developed countries, particularly in Europe, reneging on their emission reduction targets in order to meet their energy demands,” said the Minister.
He added:
“I am glad to note that much progress was made at COP27 in advancing the work of the Santiago Network for Loss and Damage associated with the impacts of climate change.
“For the first time, there was agreement to establish a financing mechanism to address loss and damage associated with the unavoidable adverse effects of climate change and establishment of a Fund for Loss and Damage.”
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter