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Africa must unite in support of Paris Agreement, Kyoto Protocol: Ramaphosa

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President Ramaphosa says Africa must speak with one voice in support of the Paris Agreement and the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change.

Ramaphosa says this in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa on Saturday morning where he accepted Chairmanship of the African Union (AU) Committee on Climate Change from outgoing Chair, Gabon ahead of this weekend’s AU Summit.

He says Africans must communicate the message that they need the support of developed countries in adapting to climate change.

“The trend of international financiers to abruptly disinvest from fossil fuels poses a particular threat to Africa because of the unintended threat to jobs and our economies as well as energy and food security. If it is to be just and sustainable, the transition needs to be carried in a phased and planned manner but it must also be tailored to national circumstances,” says Ramaphosa.

Earlier this week, Minister in the Presidency Jackson Mthembu said that South Africa will be highlighting the importance of infrastructure development on the continent at the summit.

He added that Ramaphosa will be ramping up the need for infrastructure as the lifeblood to continental development and integration.

Mthembu also said that Ramaphosa will be pushing for South Africa to host a High-Level Forum on Infrastructure in 2020 in which the proposals for funding across the continent may be tabled.

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