By Dorothy Musyoka
Orange Democratic Movement party leader Raila Odinga has urged the Africa Development Action Network (AFDAN) to enhance mobilization of climate finance and enhance its access to all the 55 African member states.
Speaking during the launch of the National Designated Authorities Network (AIDAN) and the Building Climate Resilience of the Urban Poor (BCRUP) initiative, Odinga emphasized that Africa faces significant challenges in accessing climate finance, which hampers efforts to combat the effects of climate change.
According to the ODM leader Africa has low access to climate finance which is below the required finances to mitigate climate change.
“Consequently Africa can only access 4% of the climate finances which is way below the impactful finance,” noted opposition party leader.
In addressing the devastating impacts of climate change Mr. Odinga called for different measures to approach the banning issue of climate change expressing his confident with AFDAN which he said has critical role to play in climate action.
” It is important we change the game.I strongly believe that AFDAN is the game changer.AFDAN therefore has a critical role in supporting AUC in its commitment to climate action.AFDAN is expected to be fully committed to enhance mobilization of climate finance and enhance its access to all the 55 African Countries,” reiterated Mr. Odinga.
Opposition party leader also linked the adverse impacts of climate change to failure to keep promises by the rich urging them to play their part and help the countries that contribute the least in green gas emission.
“Failure to translate the promises into reality Africa has challenges with access to some climate finance resources, green climate fund, global environmental facility, least countries development fund, adaptation fund, climate investment fund as well as bilateral and multilateral development partners,” stated Raila
“One such fundamentals issues promised by the rich countries to play their part and help the countries that contribute the least in green house emission and to adaptation,” added Raila.
The former Prime Minister, who is vying for the position of African Union Commission Chairperson, has called on the AU to more effectively represent the continent’s interests in addressing climate change.