Ban Ki-moon urges U.S. to respect Paris climate deal

Following concerns that Washington may pull out of the Paris, France agreement, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged United States President-elect Donald Trump to shift his hard stance on global warming and “understand the seriousness and urgency” of addressing the problem.

Speaking at a high-level segment of the UN climate conference in Morocco, attended by President Muhammadu Buhari, he said: “As President of the United States, I am sure that he will understand this. He will listen and evaluate his campaign remarks.”

Buhari, who arrived in Marrakech on Monday and was to deliver his address yesterday night, was to among other key issues, delve on Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to implementing the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and policy actions aimed at tackling climate change through environmentally sustainable efforts.

He was also to rally international support for the clean-up of Ogoniland and resuscitation of the Lake Chad Basin. The President is also to attend the Africa Day Commemoration at COP 22 with the theme, “Moving from commitments to action with intended nationally determined contributions and African renewable energy initiative.”

During the opening ceremony, King Mohammed VI urged all parties to translate their commitments into action by providing the countries of the South, especially the least developed as well as insular states, with urgent financial and technical support to enhance their capacities and enable them adapt to climate change.

He also wants the advanced countries to honour their commitments and mobilizing $100 billion at least, by 2020, which was the key to the Paris Agreement; and all the parties being involved in facilitating the transfer of technology, and working for the development of research and innovation in the field of climate; non-Governmental players, including companies, local communities, NGOs from civil society, giving strong impetus to the Global Climate Action Agenda.

According to him, “the environmental issue is a critical problem which must be tackled in the most serious and responsible way. The era of colonialism is over. The logic of imposing decisions is over. What is at stake is the very existence of man.

“Accordingly, countries must not be pressed from the start into accepting decisions they will be unable to comply with. This is not to say that they reject them. It only means that they do not have the necessary means to implement them. Indeed, humanity is looking forward to decisions which will help save the future of life on earth, and calling for tangible initiatives and practical steps to preserve the rights of coming generations.”