Post a comment Sierra Leone’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Jiwoh Emmanuel Abdulai, has called for urgent and equitable global action to address the escalating climate crisis, describing it as a “defining moment in human history”.
Speaking at the Resumed High-Level Segment of COP30 in Belém, Brazil, Minister Abdulai emphasized that Sierra Leone is on the front line of a crisis it did not create, facing devastating floods, landslides, coastal erosion, extreme heat, and unpredictable rainfall.
“Sierra Leone is on the front line of a crisis we did not create,” Minister Abdulai said, adding that the country’s daily reality is “unjust and morally indefensible”. He stressed that Sierra Leone refuses to surrender and is choosing resilience, transformation, and progress.
The Minister affirmed Sierra Leone’s bold national response, including its new third-generation Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), which serves as a blueprint for ambitious climate action. Under the leadership of President Brig. Rtd. Julius Maada Bio, Sierra Leone is restoring forests, rehabilitating mangroves, expanding climate-smart agriculture, and scaling up renewable energy.
Minister Abdulai urged world leaders to fast-track climate negotiations, warning that the current pace is too slow and that the world does not have the luxury of time. He called for a strong and actionable Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) with concrete targets supported by finance, technology, and capacity building.
The Minister also stressed the need for accessible, predictable, and adaptation-focused climate finance, as well as rapid progress on technology development and transfer. He added that climate-vulnerable countries cannot build resilient economies without affordable, accessible technologies.
In his concluding statement, Minister Abdulai reminded world leaders that COP30 represents a generational decision point, saying, “The window for preserving a safe future is closing with alarming speed. History will not forgive hesitation or empty commitments.”
The Minister reaffirmed the country’s commitment to global climate leadership, stating, “Sierra Leone stands ready to act. But we cannot face this crisis alone. Let us leave Belém with decisions that deliver hope for our people and protection for our planet”.
