Page 34 - Nigeriaone mag 3 edition en

continent and western nations must commit to
assisting it in fighting it. Several African leaders saw
the absence of their European counterparts as a
major deception. There has been little in-person
involvement from European governments, in
contrast to the long-distance attendance by African
leaders, whose priority at the COP27 climate talks in
Sharm-el-Sheikh (Egypt) this year will be to secure
funds for climate adaptation. European leaders' low
turnout may be interpreted as a lack of interest from
the EU, which is suffering from the Russia/Ukraine
crisis. Senegalese President and African Union Chief,
Macky Sall and Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi
said wealthy countries responsible for most CO2
emissions should have attended. Mr. Macky Sall at
the opening event expressed his disappointment. “I
cannot fail to note with a touch of bitterness the
absence of the leaders of the industrialized world.
rainwater culvert, Machakos County, Kenya.
Because these are the main polluters of our planet
and it is they who should finance adaptation. He also seem like a harder sell for European leaders at a
added that it was “not just the fate of Africa that is at time when their citizens face a generational cost-of-
stake but the fate of humanity and the future of the living crisis”. He stressed, however, the risks
planet.” Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of associated with European intransigence on climate
Congo, echoing his Senegalese counterpart’s funding. In addition to being risky, this stance could
remarks, underscored the significant percentage of negatively affect the relationship between Africa and
global CO2 emissions by the industrialized nations. Europe. There may be room for China and Russia
Theodore Murphy, director of the African program at (Europe's rivals) to develop closer relations with
the European Council on Foreign Relations stated Africa as a result. Murphy said “the danger in this is
that “spending on climate protection in Africa may that the Chinese and the Russians make hay with it.
As another example of how Europe does not walk the
walk, or how, when the chips are down, Europe’s not
around, basically, Africa is Europe’s partner of
convenience.”
An unprecedented energy crisis is forcing the EU to
turn to Africa more than ever before. European
leaders must build long-term relationships Fwith
African counterparts. All parties would benefit from
such a deal. Due to the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, the
EU has turned to African oil and gas exporters for
energy supply alternatives. The Europeans have
contacted countries like Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana,
Algeria, and others in Africa regarding energy
supply. There is a tremendous amount of potential
for Africa to help Europe to reduce its dependency
on Russian gas. As we approach winter and the
possibility of a complete cutoff of Russian gas,
Europe must cooperate fully with Africa. In return,
western countries should assist African nations in
Mr. Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo coping with climate change.

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