(MENAFN- Trend News Agency)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 20. Loss of sea ice
in the Antarctic and glacier retreat are phenomena confirming the
acceleration of global warming, said Dini Abdallah Omar, Secretary
General of the Ministry of Environment of Djibouti, as he addressed
the COP29 summit in Baku, Trend reports.
Omar highlighted the clear signs of global warming, stating,
“Heat waves, flooding, droughts, and hurricanes have caused
devastation and chaos on all continents.”
He pointed to the extreme climate events of 2024, including
mega-fires in Greece and Canada, devastating floods in Japan,
Spain, and the U.S., and widespread flooding in Africa.“These
events are proof positive that climate change is worsening each
year and across all continents,” Omar emphasized.
Omar also highlighted the concerning rise in CO2 levels, noting
that they have surpassed pre-industrial levels by 50%, leading to
heat being trapped in the atmosphere. He referenced the UNEP
report, which predicts a trajectory towards a 3.2°C increase in
global temperatures, which is more than double the 1.5°C limit set
by the Paris Agreement.“Therefore, we call on industrial countries
to reduce drastically their GHG emissions,” he urged.
Djibouti, like many other nations, is already feeling the
effects of climate change.“We are facing harmful impacts such as
heat waves, drought, rising sea levels, and flooding,” said Omar.
He explained that these extreme events have disrupted
infrastructure, including roads, schools, hospitals, and housing,
as well as agriculture, fisheries, and tourism.
In response, Djibouti has made substantial investments to adapt
to these challenges. Omar outlined several key projects, such as
the construction of a dam to protect the capital from flooding and
a levee to safeguard the coastal city of Chadura. To address water
shortages, Djibouti has built a water pipeline to Ethiopia,
established desalination plants, and invested in wells to mobilize
groundwater.
Regarding mitigation efforts, Djibouti has also taken
significant steps, including an electric link to Ethiopia for
hydroelectric power and the establishment of a 60-megawatt wind
farm. However, Omar stressed that more resources are needed to
continue these efforts.“Our NDC needs $3 billion by 2030,” he
said, calling on developed countries to mobilize more financing for
vulnerable nations.
“We need huge financing to address the challenge of climate
change. Therefore, it is critical that we adopt the annual $1
trillion goal at COP29,” Omar concluded. He also expressed his
support for the agreement reached in Sharm el-Sheikh on loss and
damage, urging for its operationalization to help developing
countries cope with the adverse effects of global warming.
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