In fewer than three days, a US citizen emits as much carbon as a person from Chad or Niger does in one year. Such is the asymmetry in culpability for climate change.
, a call for rich countries to urgently scale up assistance to help Africa address the twin challenges of climate catastrophe and the effects of Covid-19 pandemic is required.
However, Africa, the Small Island States, and many poor countries around the world have long been living with the debilitating effects of climate change. Ironically, much of these effects have not been fully appreciated by rich countries, which themselves are mostly responsible for climate change.The climate change in Africa has passed dangerously epic proportions. Nigeria, for example, has witnessed an intense and unprecedented scale of flooding over the past five years.
The African Development Bank indicates that the continent’s economy will contract between $173.1-billion and $236.7-billion in 2020/2021. The region is also expected to witness inflation of up to 5%, alongside a dramatic fall in remittance and foreign direct investment in 2021 and beyond. The same AfDB sources indicate up to 30-million jobs could be lost and between 28-million and 49-million people could be pushed into extreme poverty.
Given the role of rich countries in imposing the risk of climate change and Covid-19 on Africa, there is an argument to be made that 50% of the projected $200-billion cost of climate change to Africa should be borne by rich countries. This would imply that rich countries owe Africa at least $100-billion for climate-related loss and damage and several billions to help to boost recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
South Africa gets major investment to treat Covid-19, TB, cancer, and HIV - The Mail & GuardianPresident Cyril Ramaphosa welcomed the investment, noting that it ‘is a leapfrog to cutting edge technology’
Read more »
Why ‘Live at the Market Theatre’ is a monument - The Mail & GuardianIn 1998, Sibongile Khumalo and other musicians recorded an odyssey through SA’s musical landscape. Decades later, it helped Thandi Ntuli find her way to self.
Read more »
Why place matters in celebrating Jo’burg’s club history - The Mail & GuardianThe history of clubbing in Jo’burg is less about physical space and fading memories, but about the sheer, frightful necessity of dancing
Read more »
Food is not a commodity, it’s a fundamental right - The Mail & GuardianWe need collective action to reach a zero-hunger world
Read more »
Clubbing in an oppressive city – from Cairo’s Al-Haram Street to Tahrir Square - The Mail & GuardianMahraganat music emerged in Cairo from the brief convergence of Egypt’s 2011 uprising and its bitter aftermath
Read more »
Why it's time to switch to a Galaxy foldable smartphone - The Mail & GuardianSPONSORED: Introducing the sleek and revolutionary Galaxy Z Fold3 5G and Galaxy Z Flip3 5G. SamsungMobileSA the future is foldable. Learn more about how you can get yours here:
Read more »