UN Chief Calls for Global Support to Address Climate, Conflict Crises in Africa

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has renewed his appeal for the international community to back efforts to tackle the climate crisis and civil strife undermining peace, stability, and sustainable growth in Africa, Xinhua reported yesterday.

Addressing the UN Civil Society Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, Guterres emphasized that Africa remains the epicenter of climate emergencies, despite contributing negligibly to global greenhouse gas emissions. “This continent is being blasted by extreme weather, turbocharged by a climate crisis it has done next to nothing to create,” he said.

The UN chief stressed that Africa could become a “renewables giant,” as the continent is home to 30% of the minerals critical to the green energy transition and 60% of the world’s solar resources.

However, he noted that Africa has received only 2% of investments in clean energy in recent decades.

Guterres called on major economies to honor their climate finance commitments to Africa and increase their contribution to the newly established Loss and Damage Fund.

He also urged the reform of multilateral development banks to enhance capital flows for climate action in the continent.

On the conflict front, Guterres said the UN has rallied behind the African Union’s call for silencing the guns and restoring peace in several hotspots, including Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Sahel, and the Horn of Africa.