By Fatima Saka

South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, says the COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative effect on the fight against climate change.

According to him, in two years of living with the  pandemic, several places around the world and Africa, have seen record high temperatures. As the fight against the pandemic took centre stage, the battle against climate change slipped a bit too far back.

The South African President said this while addressing a meeting of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate change on Sunday. It was the last meeting that South Africa will sit as chair.

Ramaphosa said perception has long been that Africa is the most resistant to the fight against climate change due to the cost,  stressing that it will be African countries’ pockets that hurt more if nothing is done.

According to him, African countries are already paying the cost of climate change.

“Africa is experiencing the worst impacts of phenomena associated with global warming such as droughts, floods and cyclones. Climate change impacts are costing African economies between 3 and 5 per cent of their GDP’s. Despite not being responsible for causing climate change, it is Africans who are bearing both the brunt and the cost.”

President Ramaphosa reiterates that Africa needs more help while calling on developed countries to help out in  climate-change battle.

The president says Africa’s special needs and circumstances need to be recognised globally, since many African economies are largely based on natural resources.

With the global UN climate change summit (COP27) coming up in November, President Ramaphosa called on African countries to speak with one voice about climate change. At the same time, he acknowledged that each country’s journey will have to be different.

“A one-size-fits-all approach to complex issues such as a transition from fossil fuels that disregards the realties on the ground in Africa will simply not work, and is neither just nor equitable.

To achieve the expected results for Africa at COP27, it is imperative that we develop a strong and well-coordinated Common African Position, and that we formulate a set of robust key messages that encapsulate Africa’s aspirations,” he said.