PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has urged Africans to unite and clearly identify areas that need to be tackled to resolve the challenges posed by climate change.
The President also called for mobilisation and involvement of the private sector in implementing the continent’s transition to a low carbon development pathway.
Mr Hichilema said this in a write up after attending the virtual Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSC), Africa Climate Summit (ACS) that was co-hosted by Kenyan President William Ruto, in collaboration with the AU Commission Chairperson Mousa Faki Mahamat.
President Hichilema emphasized the importance of Africa clearly and specifically identifying the areas that needed resolution, to ensure a unified approach to making a meaningful impact on the challenges posed by climate change.
He encouraged Africa to maintain coordination, consistency and rationality throughout the climate Change debate, avoiding polarization, although he acknowledged the continent’s strong momentum in pursuing the green investment agenda.
“As an example, Zambia is collaborating with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to prioritize the electric vehicle and battery value chain,” he said.
He said to promote industrialisation, combat high poverty levels, and achieve resilient socio-economic development, Africa should mobilize private sector investment because its involvement was a critical tool for implementing the continent’s transition towards a low-carbon development pathway.
The President assured CAHOSC that Zambia would work closely with the African Union (AU) on the preparation of the United Nations Framework on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement.
“We assured President Ruto that as the chairperson of the African Group of negotiators, Zambia will continue to work closely with him in the preparation of the UN Framework on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement,” he said.
The president also congratulated President Ruto and Mr Mahamat on their leadership in hosting the Africa Climate Summit and assured them of support in achieving the summit’s intended objectives of addressing the issue of climate change.
