CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE

President Jakaya kikwete has said that climate change poses a huge threat to social well being of the African continent while displays a wider range and diversity of challenges and adversities caused by climate change. It has been established.

Speaking to invited dignitaries as the coordinator of the Committee of the African Heads of State and government on climate change at the inauguration of the High Level segment conference recently in Warsaw, Poland, President Kikwete said that Africa does not want to be on the receiving end with regard to climate change and its effects.

  “It is an open secret that climate change poses one of the biggest threats to humanity’s well being and its very existence. Africa suffers more than any other continent on this planet,”

“Africa displays a wide range and diversity of challenges and adversities caused by climate change. The sad thing Africa suffers so much, despite having the smallest carbon footprints,” He said.

He said that Africa’s per capita emission is on the average less than 1 ton per annum and with their current growth rate per capita emission is not likely to exceed 2 tons, by 2030.

President Kikwete added that the African continent is taking measures both policy and otherwise to respond to the needs for mitigation and adaptation unfortunately constrained in terms of limited financial resources technology and skills is still a bottleneck.

He underscored that United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) adaptation gap technical report shows that in a below 2 temperature warming pathway the adaptation costs Africa estimation of USD 35  Billion per year by the 2040s and USD 200 Billion per year by the 2070.

The Tanzania delegation to the UN Conference on Climate Change (COP19/CMP9) in Warsaw, Poland.

“Going by experience, these resources are unlikely to be realized.  For example, over the last three years, the financial pledges made have not been met. Also,’

“Over 70 percent of what has been delivered has gone towards addressing mitigation than adaptation. And much of it has gone to more advanced developing countries than Africa,” he added.

President Kikwete went on to say that the position of Africa is that developed countries should pluck-up political will and take appropriate action to reduce Green House Gases (GHGs) by between 25 percent and 40 percent by 2020 and by between 80 percent and 95 percent by 2050 below 1990 levels in line with the recommendation of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

 A section of the crowd at  the UN Conference on Climate Change (COP19/CMP9) in Warsaw, Poland.

Coordinator of the Commitee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete with members of the Tanzania delegation at the UN Conference on Climate Change (COP19/CMP9) in Warsaw, Poland.(STATE HOUSE PHOTOS).

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