Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – The Kingdom of Eswatini’s Prime Minister (PM) Russell Mmiso Dlamini has told the Africa Climate Week gathering in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, that the country’s Tinkhundla system of governance model places communities at the core of decision-making.
Dlamini said this when reaffirming Eswatini’s commitment to people-centred climate action during the opening of the conference yesterday. The conference is held under the theme, “Accelerating Global Climate Solutions – Financing for Africa’s Resilient and Green Development.” Dlamini stressed the need for inclusive and equitable approaches to tackling climate change.
“In the spirit of our African values and the Tinkhundla system of governance, which places people and communities at the centre of decision-making, the Kingdom of Eswatini commits to working with all Member States to ensure that climate action is inclusive, equitable, and driven by the needs of our citizens,” Dlamini said.
He pledged Eswatini’s support for initiatives such as the Africa Climate Innovation Challenge, which seeks to channel catalytic finance towards youth-led enterprises and nature-based solutions.
The Prime Minister also joined calls for transformative climate financing, stating that Africa requires nearly US$3 trillion to meet its Nationally Determined Contributions by 2030, as highlighted in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Sixth Assessment Report. However, he warned that actual flows remain far below the target, with only US$30 billion recorded between 2021 and 2022.
“We need equitable access to finance, reform of global funding mechanisms including Multilateral Development Banks to increase concessional finance and African representation, and debt instruments that enable climate action without burdening our economies,” he said.
Dlamini further called for the operationalisation of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, agreement on the New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance, and the promotion of high-integrity carbon markets through the Africa Action Plan on Carbon Markets. He cautioned against unilateral measures such as the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, warning it could cost Africa up to US$25 billion annually by 2030.
Discussion about this post