Cape Town — South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, is currently attending the COP28 conference in Dubai to address issues related to climate change in South Africa.
The COP28 climate change Conference sees global leaders gather to address worldwide issues, and to find suitable eco-friendly solutions, to help combat climate change.
The conference takes place from 30 November – 12 December and Ramaphosa was invited to participate in the World Climate Action Summit to be held in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 1 and 2 December 2023, The Presidency said.
Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy will lead the country’s participation for the remainder of the Conference until the 12 December 2023.
President Ramaphosa accepted an invitation by President-Designate of the #COP28UAE Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber to participate in the World Climate Action Summit. pic.twitter.com/tzapE9tDGJ
— Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) December 2, 2023
Speaking at the World Climate Action Summit, Ramaphosa addressed the current war in Gaza and pleaded with the world to hear the cries of the people of Palestine.
He added that we should not lose sight of the fight against climate change and said that Climate action is key to South Africa’s sustainable development agenda.
“The South African government has just approved the Implementation Plan for the country’s Just Energy Transition Investment Plan. This plan focuses on areas critical to a just transition, including investment in electricity infrastructure, new energy vehicles, green hydrogen, skills development, municipal electricity distribution, and interventions directed at communities most affected by the energy transition. South Africa has a successful renewable energy power producers programme that plays a key role in supporting our decarbonisation efforts,” Ramaphosa said.
📸 His Excellency President @CyrilRamaphosa delivering his address at the First Global Stocktake during his participation at the United Nations climate-focused Conference of Parties in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.#COP28 pic.twitter.com/fE3qYq6wOq
— Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) December 2, 2023
Accoridng to TimesLIVE, Ramaphosa said the country was also continues to focus on managing the energy crisis through their energy action plan and that they did not come to the conference without a plan.
“We are telling the world that we are going through an energy crisis, which we are addressing. Our energy action plan is also part of our plan going forward, so we did not come here without a plan.
“We have a plan, we have ideas on what we should do and fortunately we’ve got good people who are well versed in a number of disciplines and some of them are here.”
#COP28 His Excellency President @CyrilRamaphosa met with the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to discuss #justtransition and climate during the United Nations climate-focused Conference of Parties in Dubai,United Arab Emirates.
The President handed over a copy… pic.twitter.com/pfadLIgHKe
— Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) December 2, 2023
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
