PACJA ED calls for global solidarity to tackle COVID-19 and the Climate Crisis

15/09/2021 Santa Maria, Cape Verde

The Executive Director of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, Dr Mithika Mwenda, today said global solidarity is in short supply and preventing robust responses to COVID-19 and Climate Change, which together are wrecking communities across Africa and the rest of the world.

In a statement at the Ninth Conference of Climate Change and Development in Africa, Dr Mwenda said delays, particularly by rich countries, to address the climate crisis and the uneven access to COVID-19 vaccines currently facing the global south all indicate the lack of political will to address problems that primarily affect poor countries.

PACJA is a key partner in the CCDA-IX, which among others, is galvanizing African voices ahead COP 26 billed Glasgow, UK, in November 2021.

The summit is taking place against reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluding that the world has done a bad job trying to reduce global warming.  The report predicts irreversible change may happen earlier than predicted – by mid-century – with devastating impacts, especially in Africa.

COVID-19 recovery is also expected to shape negotiations and decisions, at least indirectly.

Download statement.