The joint call went on to say that the rich countries must keep their promise to double their financial aid for climate change adaptation, especially for Africa. The money will be brought because of the “disproportionate effects of climate change and environmental degradation on the African continent”.
The signatories of the declaration highlighted that Africa has a “low carbon footprint” and on the other hand plays an important role in reducing greenhouse gases. In the Congo Basin, for example, there is the second largest tropical rainforest in the world after the Amazon rainforest in South America.
According to the statement, Africa accounts for only about four percent of global CO2 emissions. However, African countries are among the greatest victims of global warming, for example due to increasing droughts.
Financial aid for poorer countries to take measures to protect the climate and adapt to global warming will be a key topic at the UN climate conference that begins on November 7 in the Egyptian seaside resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. The promise of the industrialized countries to mobilize 100 billion dollars annually in climate aid for poorer countries from 2020 has so far not been kept.
According to the African Development Bank, the continent will need 1.6 trillion dollars for climate protection and climate adaptation measures between 2020 and 2030.
