Following a successful Africa Climate Change Summit in Nairobi, President Julius and First Lady Fatima Bio have departed Kenya for Freetown.

 

The climate summit in Kenya is the first organised in the African continent.

According to Reuters, The Nairobi Declaration capped the three-day Africa Climate Summit in Kenya, which was dominated by discussions of how to mobilise financing to adapt to increasingly extreme weather, conserve natural resources and develop renewable energy.

Host, President William Ruto of Kenya pleaded with Africans and other world leaders to pledge their support in fighting climate change.

Currently Africa emits less than 5 percent of global emissions but the continent is said to be affected the most by climate change.

Earlier this year in May heavy downpours and flooding killed over 100 people in western and northern Rwanda.

Recurring droughts have also been threatening the Horn of Africa leading to close to 5,000 deaths.

In the west of the continent Sierra Leone’s iconic cotton tree in central Freetown was felled by heavy downpours. The huge chunks of the over 200-year landmark were reduced to wood.

Sierra Leone also witnessed it worst natural disaster in August 2017 when a mudslide just outside Freetown led to the death of over 1,400 people.

President Bio expressed his commitment to fighting climate change at the Summit.

“The conversations and partnerships formed at the Africa Climate Summit 2023 renews our commitment to global climate actions towards building a climate-secure future,” Bio said.

He concluded by promising to collaborate with other African countries and development partners to fight climate change.