Climate crisis is a full-blown emergency: Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa says industrialised nations are not honouring their climate commitments.

Ramaphosa addressed the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) last night.

He has called the climate crisis a full-blown emergency.

Ramaphosa says developing economies and African countries in particular bear the brunt of the impacts of a warming planet.

He says, “The industrialised nations are not honouring their climate commitments and we repeat the call for predictable and sustainable financing for climate action. We must operationalise the agreed-upon climate financing and capacity building instruments to advance mitigation and adaptation. Pursing sustainable development necessitates that those with the means should support those who lack them. The world faces annual financing gap of USD 4 trillion to achieve sustainable development.”

Security council

Ramaphosa has also called for the reform of the UN Security Council.

He highlighted the plight of the people of Gaza and the efforts by South Africa to assist the Palestinian people through the country’s case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague.

Ramaphosa says the Security Council has failed to ensure peace and security.

He says, “Our moral conscience further demands that we exert every effort to bring peace to the Eastern Democratic Republic of  Congo, to Sudan, to Yemen, to Ukraine and other parts of the African continent. “

“Achieving and maintaining peace and security requires the collective will of the community of nations. It requires that the UN Security Council is representative and inclusive.  The Security Council has not fulfilled its mandate to maintain international peace and security. The UN Security Council must be reformed as a matter of urgency,” he says.

Global financial institutions

Ramaphosa has endorsed the call by UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres for the reform of global financial institutions.

He says servicing the debt is robbing countries of funds that should go towards social spending.

Ramaphosa says, “In 2025, South Africa will assume the presidency of the G20. We will use this important role to advocate for the peoples of Africa and for all the global South. South Africa welcomes the adoption of the Pact for the Future. It is a platform for us focus on those actions we need to take together to build a world in which the equal worth of every person and the equal worth of every country is recognised and valued.”

VIDEO | President Ramaphosa addresses UN General Assembly: