Climate action is in all of our national interests- Ministers
A Group of High Ambition Coalition Ministers (HAC) that comprise of the Minister-in-Assistance to the President, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Mattlan Zackhras, Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, European Union, Miguel Arias Canete, Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy, France, Segolene Royal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, The Gambia, Pa Ousman Jarju among others have put their weight behind the Paris Climate Agreement adopted last December in Paris, France and entered into force on November 4, 2016.
The Ministers, joined by Minister of Climate and Environment, Norway, Vidar Helgesen, Minister of Environment and Nature Conservation, Germany, Barbara Hendricks, Secretary of Environment and Nature resources, Mexico, Rafael Pacchiano Alaman, Minister Delegate of Environment, Morocco, Hakima El Haite, Minister for Sustainable Development, Saint Lucia, Gale T. C. Rigobert, deputy Prime Minister, Minister for International Development and Climate, Sweden, Isabella Lovin, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Environment and Forests, Bangladesh, Kamal Uddin and Chair, Least developed Countries, Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu in a joint statement issued at the weekend over the election of Donald Trump as the US President-elect.
According to them, “acting on climate change is in all of our national interests- it is good for our environment, good for our economies, and good for our climate security.
“The Paris Agreement marks a turning point toward a more prosperous and stable world. Acting on climate change is in all of our national interests – it is good for our environment, good for our economies, and good for our climate security. Our commitment to be climate leaders remains steadfast, as is our commitment to work with the whole international community, including the United States, to tackle one of the greatest challenges of our time.”
Since the US President-elect, Donald Trump emerged last Wednesday; many people have expressed reservation on what his presidency portends to the global climate treat based on his campaign policies.
United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, in a congratulatory message to the president-elect said, “Today’s global challenges demand concerted global action and joint solutions. As a founding member of the United Nations and permanent member of the Security Council, the United States is an essential actor across the international agenda. People everywhere look to the United States to use its remarkable power to help lift humanity up and to work for the common good.
The United Nations will count on the new Administration to strengthen the bonds of international cooperation as we strive together to uphold shared ideals, combat climate change, advance human rights, promote mutual understanding and implement the Sustainable Development Goals to achieve lives of peace, prosperity and dignity for all.”
