Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud calls on effective inclusivity to tackle climate change

Summary

The speaker from Somalia emphasizes the urgent climate crisis, detailing the devastating effects of rising temperatures, droughts, floods, and biodiversity loss on the country. They call for immediate and effective multilateral action, stressing the need for accessible climate financing to support developing nations in their mitigation and adaptation efforts. Highlighting Somalia's proactive steps, including the establishment of a Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and new environmental legislation, the speaker underscores the necessity for global equity in addressing the climate emergency.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Global Impact: The script discusses the worldwide effects of climate change, including rising temperatures, droughts, floods, and melting ice caps, which are disrupting human life across every continent.
• 🌡️ Rising Temperatures: It highlights the increase in global temperatures and the severe consequences such as food insecurity and health issues due to pollution.
• 💧 Water Scarcity and Excess: The mention of droughts and floods indicates the dual problem of water scarcity and excess, affecting agriculture and infrastructure.
• 🌳 Biodiversity Loss: The script emphasizes the loss of biodiversity, which is a critical component of the ecosystems and contributes to the climate crisis.
• 🏠 Displacement and Livelihoods: It points out the destruction of homes and livelihoods, particularly in climate-vulnerable communities in developing states.
• 🇸🇴 Somalia's Frontline Status: The speaker from Somalia describes the country as being on the frontline of climate change, facing immediate and severe challenges.
• 📈 Extreme Weather Predictions: The prediction of increased extreme weather events like droughts and floods, which will disproportionately affect people's lives in Somalia.
• 🛡️ Policy and Legislation: Somalia has established a Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and is working on policies and laws, including an Environmental Protection and Management law, to combat environmental challenges.
• 🚫 Plastic Bag Ban: The script announces a ban on the importation, trade, and use of plastic bags from June, aiming to protect the environment from plastic pollution.
• 💰 Climate Financing: The need for accessible and affordable climate financing is emphasized, as without it, many developing states cannot meet their adaptation and mitigation needs.
• 🔄 International Support and Equity: The call for equitable global access to resources and sincere action on climate financing, as well as burden-sharing between developed and developing nations, is a key point in the script.

Q & A

What is the main issue being discussed in the script?

The main issue discussed is the global climate crisis, its effects on Somalia, and the urgent need for multilateral action to address climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

What are some of the environmental challenges mentioned that Somalia is currently facing?

Somalia is facing rising temperatures, droughts, floods, melting ice caps, and the disruption of human life due to climate change, along with food insecurity and the destruction of homes and livelihoods.

What is the term used to describe the current state of the climate situation in Somalia?

The term used is 'climate emergency,' indicating that the situation has passed the point of being a mere crisis.

What actions has the Somali government taken to address environmental challenges?

The Somali government has established the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, is finalizing policy frameworks, and has ratified new Environmental Protection and Management laws.

What significant policy change is mentioned in the script regarding plastic bags?

The script mentions that Somalia is planning to ban the importation, trade, and use of plastic bags from the end of June of the current year to combat plastic pollution.

What is the estimated cost for implementing mitigation and adaptation strategies in Somalia?

The total cost of implementing these strategies is estimated to be more than $5 billion through 2030.

Why is climate financing important for Somalia and other developing states?

Climate financing is crucial because without accessible and affordable financing, developing states like Somalia cannot meet their vast and pressing adaptation and mitigation requirements and priorities.

What is the current issue with international climate financing according to the script?

The international climate financing architecture is not serving the needs of countries like Somalia, as there is a huge mismatch between available financing and the emergency situation faced by affected states.

What does the Somali government aim to achieve through better management and protection of its environment?

The government aims to translate its vast natural resources into green energy, jobs, and growth for the benefit of its people and the wider Horn of Africa region.

What is the Somali government's approach to attracting climate financing and investors?

The government is working on bankable and investment-grade projects to attract climate financing and investors, hoping this will help raise more domestic resources to finance national mitigation and adaptation needs.

What additional challenges does Somalia face beyond environmental issues?

Somalia also faces multifaceted challenges such as the war against terror, poverty, a post-conflict environment, and a fragile situation, which compound the effects of environmental challenges.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 Climate Emergency and Somalia's Response

The speaker addresses the urgent global climate crisis, highlighting the devastating effects such as rising temperatures, droughts, floods, and melting ice caps. They emphasize the impact on human life and the environment, particularly in developing countries like Somalia, which is experiencing a climate-induced humanitarian crisis. The government of Somalia is actively working to mitigate and adapt to these challenges, having established a Ministry of Environment and Climate Change in 2022. Key initiatives include the ratification of new environmental protection laws and a ban on plastic bags to combat pollution. The speaker calls for international support, especially in terms of climate financing, to meet the estimated $5 billion needed for mitigation and adaptation strategies by 2030.

05:03

💼 The Need for Equitable Climate Financing

This paragraph delves into the critical issue of climate financing and its accessibility for developing nations like Somalia. The speaker points out the inadequacy of the current international climate financing architecture, which fails to meet the urgent needs of affected states. There is a call for equity in global resource mobilization to ensure equal response capabilities to the climate crisis. The developed world is urged to share the burden with the developing world in the spirit of multilateralism. The speaker also discusses Somalia's efforts to manage its environment sustainably, aiming to convert natural resources into green energy jobs and growth. They mention ongoing projects to attract climate financing and investors, aligning with the National Climate Financing Strategy. The paragraph concludes with a plea for unity and collective action, recognizing the existential threat posed by climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, and the need for effective multilateral measures.

Keywords

💡Climate Change

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns, primarily caused by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. In the video, it is a central theme, with the speaker discussing the global impact of rising temperatures, melting ice caps, and extreme weather events, which are all consequences of climate change.

💡Droughts

Droughts are periods of unusually low precipitation, leading to water scarcity and affecting agriculture, ecosystems, and human livelihoods. The script mentions a 4-year drought in Somalia, illustrating the severe impact of climate change on the region's water resources and the subsequent humanitarian crisis.

💡Floods

Floods are natural disasters characterized by excessive water overflow, often causing damage to property and infrastructure. The video script highlights the increase in extreme weather events like floods, which have a disproportionate impact on vulnerable communities and are linked to climate change.

💡Melting Ice Caps

Melting ice caps refer to the process where ice in the polar regions and glaciers melts due to rising global temperatures. The script uses this as an example of the physical evidence of climate change, contributing to sea-level rise and the loss of habitats for polar species.

💡Food Insecurity

Food insecurity is a situation where people lack consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. The video script connects food insecurity to the effects of climate change, such as droughts and floods, which disrupt agricultural production and threaten the availability of food.

💡Pollution

Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change. The script discusses pollution as a consequence of rapid urbanization and industrialization, contributing to chronic illnesses and environmental degradation.

💡Climate Vulnerability

Climate vulnerability refers to the susceptibility of a region or community to the adverse effects of climate change. The speaker from Somalia describes their country as being on the front line of climate change, facing significant challenges due to its vulnerability.

💡Multilateral Action

Multilateral action involves cooperation among multiple countries to achieve common goals, such as addressing global issues. The script emphasizes the need for effective, inclusive, and sustainable multilateral action to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

💡Climate Financing

Climate financing is the allocation of financial resources to support climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. The video script discusses the challenges of accessing climate financing for developing countries like Somalia, highlighting the need for accessible and affordable financing to meet adaptation and mitigation requirements.

💡Biodiversity Loss

Biodiversity loss refers to the reduction in the variety of species, ecosystems, and genetic diversity. The script mentions biodiversity loss as one of the existential challenges exacerbated by climate change, affecting ecosystems and the services they provide to humans.

💡Plastic Pollution

Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic products in the environment, causing harm to wildlife and ecosystems. The speaker from Somalia talks about the government's plan to ban the importation, trade, and use of plastic bags to combat plastic pollution and protect the environment.

Highlights

Climate change is causing rising temperatures, droughts, floods, melting ice caps, and disrupting human life across every continent.

Food insecurity affects hundreds of millions of people due to climate change.

Pollution-related chronic illnesses are on the rise.

Developing states face destroyed homes, livelihoods, and climate vulnerability.

Rapid urbanization is a global challenge that needs to be addressed.

Somalia is on the front line of climate change, experiencing rising temperatures and a 4-year drought.

Somalia's government is working to mitigate and adapt to the new painful reality of climate change.

Somalia has established its first Ministry of Environment and Climate Change in 2022.

New Environmental Protection and Management Law has been ratified to safeguard the environment.

Somalia plans to ban the importation, trade, and use of plastic bags from June to combat plastic pollution.

Effective, inclusive, and sustainable multilateral actions are needed to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

Developing states like Somalia cannot meet their adaptation and mitigation requirements without accessible and affordable climate financing.

Somalia's National Determined Contribution reflects its commitment to addressing climate change through mitigation and adaptation strategies.

The total cost of implementing these strategies in Somalia is estimated to be more than $5 billion through 2030.

There is a huge mismatch between available climate financing and the emergency situation in affected states, especially fragile countries like Somalia.

Equity in global access and resource mobilization is needed to ensure all nations can respond to the climate crisis equally.

Somalia is working on bankable projects to attract climate financing and investors to finance its national mitigation and adaptation needs.

Somalia faces multiple challenges including war against terror, poverty, post-conflict environment, and fragility.

Somalia experienced four consecutive years of drought and floods that destroyed remaining resources.

Climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution pose an existential threat to humanity, and collective action is needed for survival.

Transcripts

and pollution could not be timer and

more relevant across the world we are

witnessing Rising temperatures more

droughts floods melting ice caps and the

disruption of human life in every

continent we cannot go on like this

forever whether it's the food insecurity

facing hundreds of millions of people

rising pollution related

chronic illness destroyed homes and

livelihoods in the most climate

vulnerable communities in developing

States or the rapid P for Global

urbanization the only realistic way to

address them all is through effective

inclusive and sustainable multilateral

action to tackle climate change

biodiversity loss and

pollution

in Somalia we are on the front line of

the climate change and our government is

working tirelessly to address the

enormous challenges we face in

mitigating adapting to the new painful

reality we're facing today as a country

we are witnessing Rising temperature and

have just come out of a

4year drought with a climate induced

humanitarian situation is still estly

persisting looking

forward it's predicted that extreme

weather events like

droughts and floods will increase having

disproportionate impact on our people's

lives livelihoods infrastructure land

degradation biodiversity loss and food

insecurity accordingly for us in Somalia

I would

strongly argue that we have passed the

point of climate crisis and we are now

in the climate emergency

stage given this agonizing reality we

need the support of all our

International Partners to take immediate

action to address this effectively and

quickly excellencies ladies and

gentlemen I'm glad to inform you that

having established somalia's first

Ministry of environment and climate

change in the year

2022 our government is in the process of

finalizing the remaining

few policy frame policy and legal

Frameworks to safeguard our environment

key among these is the new Environmental

Protection and management law which our

government ratified only last

week this legislation is fundamental in

informing our environmental responses to

the existential challenges we face at

this critical time in a determined and

systematic

manner including biodiverse FL and

pollution address furthermore we are

planning the importation trade and use

of plastic bags from the end of June

this year this is certainly a

game-changing action which will protect

our people and environment from plastic

pollution effective inclusive and

sustainable multilateral actions to

tackle climate change biodiversity loss

and pollution must include sincere

action on climate financing without

available accessible and affordable

financing most of the developing States

like Somalia cannot meet their vast and

most pressing adaptation mitigation

requirements and priorities our national

determined

contribution reflects our commitment to

addressing climate change through a

comprehensive framework that prioritizes

both mitigation and adaptation

strategies the total cost of

implementing these strategies is

estimated to be more than $5 billion

through

2030 which are underscores the scale of

investment required to meet the targets

set by Somalia to meet our adaptation

and mitigation

Targets this is more than we raise in

domestic revenue or are able to borrow

from vertical and multilateral funds or

the private financing markets given the

difficulty for access to climate

financing the international

the international climate financing

architecture is not

serving our needs at the moment and is

not fit for the purpose at the moment as

well excellencies ladies and

gentlemen there is a huge mismatch

between available climate financing and

the emergency situation most of the

world's affected States especially

fragile countries like Somalia are in

accordingly there must be equity in

global access and resource mobilization

to ensure that all nations are able to

respond to their climate crisis equally

for the benefit of

humanity

additionally there must be a bden

sharing between the developed and the

developing World in this matter in the

spirit of multilateralism and common

development to achieve sustainable

development even beyond the 2030 un

aspiration better managed and protecting

somalia's environment as our government

is committed to will ensure that our

vast natural resources including our

oceans fertile lands and livestock can

translate to Green energy jobs and

growth for the benefit of our people and

the wider hor of Africa

region we are currently working on a

bankable and investment rate projects to

attract climate financing and investors

and are hopeful that this will help our

government raise more domestic resources

to effectively Finance our national

mitigation and adaptation needs on a

permanent basis in in line with our

National Climate financing strategy

before I conclude I would like to stress

here that Somalia facing multi

challenges the war against

Terror the poverty line the below the

BTY line most of our population are

rined postconflict environment the

fragility

situation this has compounded the

effects of environmental challenges

Somalia faced four consecutive drought

four consecutive years of drought and

the fifth year was the eleno and the

floods that destroyed whatever remaining

after the

droughts in conclusion I'm confident

that we as a community of nations are

aware to existential threat that climate

change biodiversity fls and pollution

poses to our very EX

existence it's destructive evidence is

all around

us however we are still lagging behind

and when it comes to taking effective

inclusive and sustainable multilateral

actions to tackle

them where it be accessing climate

financing knowledge sharing cooperation

on a specific International climate

protection measures like banning plastic

bags and systematically punishing those

that Dam chemical waste in our oceans we

need to be more united and Community

Nations and international institutions

more than ever before our Collective

survival depends on

this excellencies ladies and gentlemen I

thank

[Music]

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