Angola VP asks SRSG to prioritize climate crisis and ocean pollution

The vice-president of Angola considered this Friday in Lubango, Huila province, that the climate crisis, ocean pollution with a focus on the problem of plastic should be a priority for the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP).

Esperanza Costa, who opened the IX Meeting of Ministers of the Environment of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP), noted that Angola is paying increasing attention to national and international environmental issues, as well as the rational management of resources and the conservation of biodiversity.

The leader of Angola stressed that Angola, in order to contribute to global efforts, has approved the National Climate Change Strategy, which sets out the vision for reducing emissions by 2030, which is being implemented with energy diversification to ensure the adaptation of the national territory and to contribute to the global efforts. to combat its causes.

According to Esperanza Costa, rational resource management and biodiversity conservation is also a priority, and in line with the desire to expand environmental protection zones, national natural parks have been enlarged.

The official of Angola mentioned the Mayombe forest, a cross-border protection initiative for which Angola continues to make efforts to streamline the action plans that are part of the African Climate Initiative’s efforts to conserve the Congo Basin in order to achieve the goals of the Global Agenda. The Post-2020 Biodiversity Agenda.

“Angola has about 1650 kilometers of sea coastline in the Atlantic Ocean region and recognizes the strategic importance of the seas and oceans to humanity as a source of life, ecosystem support, climate regulator, source of employment, water supply and fundamental support for humanity. sustainability of our civilization, Angola adopted in 2022 the National Maritime Strategy, the vision of which includes inclusive, sustainable, competitive development based on scientific knowledge, human resource qualifications and supporting infrastructures that strengthen the blue economy,” emphasized the Vice President of Angola.

Among the priorities that should continue to deserve the attention of CPSS member states, Esperanza Costa pointed to the climate crisis, ocean pollution, plastic pollution, loss of habitats and loss of biodiversity.

“Let me remind you that CPSG Member States have the first and second largest rainforests in the world, with the Amazon forest in Brazil and Floresta do Mayombe in Angola rich in fauna and flora. , rich ecosystems necessary to sustain life,” he said.

“The common thing, besides language and a strong cultural base, history, is a maritime identity, which between the coastal states and the island states under their jurisdiction, together is more than 7.5 million square kilometers, which is a great expansion of a large carbon sink, but also an important platform for promoting political and diplomatic alignment, for cooperation in order to manage this potential in the SRSG countries in a sustainable way,” he added.

The Vice President of Angola expressed his hope that at the meeting the SRSG Environment Ministers, in light of the growing call for action to end the global environmental crisis, will focus on interconnected forests, energy and livelihoods and make pragmatic commitments to strengthen scientific and technological cooperation, as well as coordination of actions to preserve biodiversity, reduce carbon emissions through a commitment to alternative energy sources, which is a guarantee of the planet’s survival.

In her speech, Angola’s Minister of the Environment, Ana Paula de Carvalho, highlighted that Angola is part of several international commitments related to environmental sustainability and, in response to the commitments, adopted several working instruments, including the National Strategy for Environmental Education. National Climate Change Strategy and Drought Management Program in Southern Angola.

“Angola reaffirms the importance of the legal recognition by the United Nations of a stable climate as the ‘common heritage of mankind’ and we call on the SRSG to take concerted action to advance this debate internationally,” the Angolan minister said.