Africa is vastly affected by the consequences of climate change despite being the least contributor to the shift in weather behaviors, according to the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
“Africa makes a minimal contribution to climate change but is in the front line of the impact of its devastating consequences. One need look no further than what happened with Cyclone Idai in Mozambique,” the UN chief said on Thursday.
Africa makes a minimal contribution to climate change but is in the front line of the impact of its devastating consequences. One need look no further than what happened with Cyclone Idai in Mozambique. That is why I am hosting the #ClimateAction Summit in New York next month.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) August 29, 2019
Guterres’ remarks come a few weeks before the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit, which is schedule to begin on 23 September in New York.
The UN chief called for more efforts to tackle climate change, urging all countries to play a part.
“Long-term drought is a reality throughout Africa. The poor and vulnerable are both the first to suffer and the worst-hit by climate impacts,” he said.
Climate change has been a major talking point, fuelled further by recent natural tragedies across the world.
Calamities such as cyclones, prolonged droughts and wildfires have prompted more calls for world leaders to do more to tackle climate change.
Climate change was a major talking point at the recently concluded G7 Summit in France, with various leaders calling for concerted efforts by all governments to fight it.
The Summit happened amid a tragedy in South America, as swathes of the Amazon rainforest were razed down by wildfires for over three weeks.
Conservationists warn that the continued burning of the forest could harm the earth irreversibly.
The G7 leaders pledged $22 million to tackle the fires in the Amazon and initiate restoration projects.
