Guterres Urges Climate Justice in South Africa During G20 Presidency
President of Ramaphosa reunited with Antonio Guterres, Dec 2024 Photo: @diplomatic_the
December 11, 2024 Hour: 9:32 pm
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, visiting South Africa during its G20 presidency, delivered a strong message emphasizing the urgent need for climate justice for Africa.
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Guterres underscored the continent’s immense potential a youthful and growing population, rich cultural and natural diversity, and a robust entrepreneurial spirit –which is being stifled by historical injustices rooted in colonialism.
“Africa needs climate justice,” Guterres stated. “The continent stands on the frontlines of the climate crisis. Despite contributing minimally to global emissions, climate change is devastating your people and economies. Africa is warming faster than the global average. We must limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius to prevent this crisis from escalating further.”
He highlighted the significance of South Africa’s G20 presidency as a critical juncture to address these issues.
While emphasizing Africa’s potential, Guterres also expressed concern over the volatile geopolitical landscape, particularly the recent developments in the Middle East, specifically mentioning the ousting of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. He tempered his concerns, however, with a note of cautious optimism.
