by Ncaba Ntshakala
Prime Minister Russell Dlamini has joined global leaders at the World Climate Action Summit’s opening session on Tuesday, where he delivered a plea for immediate action to counter the escalating impacts of climate change.
Dlamini emphasized the severe and urgent threat posed by climate change, which disproportionately affects vulnerable nations like Eswatini.
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“This year’s Summit once again underscores the critical and urgent need to address the escalating impacts of climate change, which continue to affect communities worldwide, including here in Eswatini,” Prime Minister Dlamini declared.
He aligned his message closely with that of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who inaugurated the summit with a rallying cry to “tear down the walls to climate finance” and accelerate global efforts to triple renewable energy capacity, double energy efficiency, and halt deforestation by 2030.
Eswatini as a nation with minimal carbon emissions but high susceptibility to climate shocks, the financial and technological support needed to build resilience is crucial.
“The Secretary-General’s message resonated strongly with the Kingdom of Eswatini, a developing economy that suffers the brunt of climate change,” Dlamini added.
“For Eswatini and other nations disproportionately impacted, equitable access to climate finance is essential.
We stand firmly with those advocating for financial mechanisms that will enable all countries to strengthen their resilience and pursue sustainable development.”
The Prime Minister is in the company of the Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Jane Mkhonta-Simelane, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Pholile Shakantu, who both expressed Eswatini’s commitment to global climate goals.
Dlamini’s delegation also included Minister of Labour and Social Security Phila Buthelezi and Senator Chief Ngangabani,
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee for the Prime Minister’s Office, along with former Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Moses Vilakati, who is in Baku in support of his campaign to become an African Union Commissioner.
The Prime Minister’s pleaw on equitable access to climate finance said to resonate with a central theme of this year’s summit, which emphasizes the need for fair and balanced climate support to vulnerable economies.
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Many developing nations argue that, despite their limited contributions to global emissions, they are facing severe climate impacts without adequate financial resources to mitigate these risks.
The summit, themed “Investing in a Livable Planet for All,” has convened leaders from government, business, and civil society to find solutions for escalating climate challenges.
Key objectives include expanding renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, and implementing sustainable development practices.
