The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone, Babatunde Ahonsi has advised the country to reenergize its efforts in addressing climate change issues.

His comments came following the fall of the historic cotton tree in Freetown following a heavy storm on Wednesday.

Sierra Leone, like many other countries, faces several climate change issues including rising sea levels, increased flooding, droughts and water scarcity during the dry season, deforestation and forest degradation, loss of biodiversity and ecosystems, amongst others.

Following the fall of the cotton tree which serves as an historic symbol of Freetown, the capital city of Sierra Leone, there has been an increased call for consciousness about climate change issues in the country.

There are efforts underway in Sierra Leone to address these climate change issues, including initiatives focused on adaptation, disaster risk reduction, sustainable land management, and renewable energy development. However, continued attention and support are required to build resilience, reduce vulnerability, and mitigate the impacts of climate change in the country.

According to Ahonsi, naturals calamities like the fall of the cotton free would be more severe in the coming years except the world achieve a sharp drop in global warming.

In his words, “The world must achieve a sharp drop in global warming in the next 8yrs, if the natural calamities we have seen recently across the globe are not to get worse. The fall of the Cotton Tree in Freetown should therefore reenergize our efforts to address climate change issues in Sierra Leone”