‘Emergency’: Moroccan Minister Warns in Dakar of Climate Change Impact on Africa

Dakar – The 2022 “extreme” and “unprecedented” natural disaster, particularly drought, floods or forest fires, “show how urgent the fight against climate change is becoming,” said Leila Benali, Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, on Thursday in Dakar.

The Moroccan minister’s statements came during the 18th African Ministerial Conference on the Environment’s (AMCEN) second session, which is organized under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

“The extreme and unprecedented events that we are experiencing this year in terms of drought, floods or forest fires, show how urgent the fight against climate change is becoming more than ever,” stressed Benali.

The Minister mentioned, in this regard, the new losses and damage generated by this scourge at the level of developing countries, even affecting Africa’s renewable energy facilities, which are supposed to solve the problem of climate change.

“Africa, which pays the heaviest price to global warming despite the fact that it emits less than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, is firmly committed to a future aligned with the objectives of the Paris Agreement,” she added.

In this regard, the Minister emphasized that COP-27, which will take place once again on African soil, will be an opportunity to make progress on issues to which the African region gives priority.

In this context, she further recalled Morocco’s strong commitment to the international dialogue on climate, and its work to give impetus to climate action on the continent through regional initiatives aimed at strengthening the resilience and adaptive capacity of African countries.