Opinion: In Climate Change Mitigation, Africa Must Be At the Forefront
Last month a considerable number of countries signed the Paris Agreement on Climate Change at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York. In the agreement, they all pledged to work to limit the temperature rise by averting global warming.
The agreement provided the framework for all nations to introduce and strengthen policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and respond to a warmer planet.
Experts observed that the Paris Agreement was a critical turning point and a fundamental pivot toward a zero-carbon and climate-resilient world, and important tool in mobilising finance, technological support and capacity building for developing countries, and would help to scale up global efforts to address and minimise loss and damage from climate change.
However, the real task lies ahead to take such promising momentum from Paris forward and ensure that the Agreement comes into effect and brings a tangible gain.
While signing indicates a commitment to refrain from acts that would defeat the object and purpose of the Agreement, a signature alone does not mean the goals will be automatically achieved. Taking the action needed to bring the agreement into force is an essential next step for countries to build on.
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