By Innocent Mujeri
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has today implored the United Nations (UN) and delegates attending the 6th African Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD) here in Victoria Falls to prioritize the mitigation of climate change adding that climate change is real as evidenced by the droughts that are ravaging the African continent, Harare Post can report.
The President was speaking at the official opening of the 6th African Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD) where delegates are expected to deliberate and review all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The President said the ripple effects of climate change are being felt in every sector of the society.
“In Southern Africa, we experienced the wrath of climate change through cyclones Idai and Kenneth in 2019 as well as recurring droughts. For us in Zimbabwe, the ripple effects of climate change were felt in every sector of our society, with dire consequences to our food security, hydro power generation and cumulatively, projected economic recovery and growth,” said the President.
His Excellency lamented little efforts by the African continent to contribute towards climate change yet it is the most severely affected continent.
“The African continent contributes less to climate change yet it is the most severely affected continent,” said the President.
President Mnangagwa further implored stakeholders of the ARFSD to prioritize mitigation of climate change as climate change is continuously causing untoward suffering to thousands of African people.
“Mitigation of climate change must be prioritized in line with the Paris Agreement. Climate change is real”, reiterated the President.
Climate change is a phenomenon that has continuously affected Africans, especially those who live on the southern part of the continent.
The forum on SDGs that is currently underway in Victoria Falls is expected to proffer progressive ideas on how to mitigate effects of climate change.
