By: Momodou Justice Darboe
The Executive Director of the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), Mr. Sanna Dahaba, has lamented that there exists a huge disparity between the commitments as regards the Paris Agreement and delivery, adding that Africa must unite forces at COP 28 to ensure that the climate-induced loss and damage brought about by the actions and inactions of the developed world are paid.
Policy-makers, environmentalists, members of pressure groups, and decision-makers are expected to be among thousands of delegates from around the world that will converge in the United Arab Emirates for COP 28.
In an exclusive interview with The Voice, Mr. Dahabasaid Africa is suffering from destructive weather events due to the actions and inactions of the industrialized world despite the continent’s negligible contribution to climate warming.
“Africa is suffering from the impact of the developed world. If you look at the Paris Agreement, there have been a lot of commitments from developed countries with regards to the Paris Agreement but they are not fulfilling their commitments,” he bemoaned.
According to Mr. Dahaba, Africa is paying the price for the global warming created by wealthy nations.
“If you look at severe climate events in the world, Africa is suffering from what they have not been contributing to.Africa is suffering from the global climate crisis as a result of what the developed countries are doing. We are paying for what they have produced,” the NDMA executive director pointed out. He continued: “Whether in the form of floods, windstorms, or other severe climate events, Africa is suffering. Severe climate events are created by the developed world. Africa is the one suffering and The Gambia is no exception. Look at the windstorm that happened in 2021 and look at the flooding the year before last. All were part of severe climate events that The Gambia had suffered and we did not create them.”
Mr. Dahaba, therefore, emphasized that Africa must make the developed world clean the mess.
“We should hold the developed world accountable for what they have created. It’s a question of accountability. We should hold them accountable for what they have committed. They created the situation that we found ourselves in. Let them pay for loss and damages because they created the loss and damage that Africa is suffering from,” the NDMA boss said. He added: “Africa has developed a Position Paper and they should make sure they hold the developed countries accountable for what they have produced. That’s what we need now. We should come up with a united force to hold those people accountable for the situation that Africa is in.”
