Angola hopes climate finance promises will be kept

Angola hopes financial pledges to combat climate change will be fulfilled so countries can build on their actions and adaptation plans, the environment minister has said.

Ana Paula de Carvalho spoke to Lusa about the expectations surrounding the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-28), which will take place on the 30th of this month in Dubai. She said Angola had already adopted the National Strategy for Change. Climate (ENAC 2022-2035), which will be presented at COP-28.

“We hope that the promises will be kept, firstly, the promises of funding so that we can use a lot more of the actions that we are taking, as well as the adaptation plans and others,” the minister said.

The representative of Angola emphasized that this strategy is the basis for action, the starting point of which is always a diploma that sets goals.

The Angolan Environment Minister also said that the government will develop a National Adaptation Plan, a process already underway, and measures aimed at adapting to climate change.

“It is very cross-cutting, it covers several ministries, each of which is taking its own actions aimed at reducing greenhouse gas pollution,” he added.

Regarding the consequences of climate change in Angola, Ana Paula de Carvalho said that the drought in the south of the country is the main face of this problem, recalling that Africa is the continent that pollutes the least, but is one of the most affected.

“The drought problem in southern Angola is clearly a consequence of climate change,” he stressed, recalling that Angola, like the rest of the African continent, is not among the most industrialized countries.

“So we are not the ones polluting the most, but we have already suffered, we have already experienced this phenomenon firsthand,” he noted.

At COP28, Angola will join the methane initiative and present a green hydrogen project, which will also include a 72 square meter pavilion.