Skip to content

Somali president addresses COP27 Summit on climate change impact on Somalia

Storyline:World

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Tuesday addressed the COP27 Summit at Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt on the impact of climate change on Somalia and the need for long-term global solutions.

Mohamud told the summit that more than 7 million Somalis struggle to satisfy their most basic requirements and pleaded with international partners for immediate assistance, asking, “Why are we here after 26 years?”

The Somali president stated, “What is obvious is that there is neither equality nor fairness in the global burden sharing of climate change because the nations that produce the least greenhouse gas emissions, like Somalia, pay the greatest price twice.”

He did, however, emphasize the Somali government’s commitment to addressing the phenomenon, stating that his administration had established an entire ministry dedicated to dealing with the environment and climate change, as well as launched a greening program dubbed “the Somalia greening initiative” to address climate change issues.

The President also talked about the drought and floods which have destroyed crucial infrastructure, agricultural crops, lives and livelihoods of entire communities in some parts of Somalia, noting that quick intervention needs to be put in place to protect vulnerable Somali citizens.

“To safeguard the lives and the livelihoods of the most vulnerable Somali citizens, climate mitigation and adaptation strategies and plans are rapidly needed to be implemented in Somalia,” said Mohamud. 

In his final address to the Summit, President Hassan Shekh said that Somalia has one of the longest coasts in the world, with fast arable land, enormous natural resources and a blue economy; pointing out that his government was committed to building an economically stable future.

“However, we must take urgent actions today and work with all our international partners to ensure we make the climate adaptation and mitigation investments that will make this reality tomorrow,” said Mohamud.