Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens Hosts Roundtable Addressing Climate Crisis in Africa, & Calls on the Uk Government to Increase Support Ahead of Cop26

LONDON, VIENNA, ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire, and SEOUL, South Korea, September 14, 2021 /3BL Media/ - Ahead of COP26, The Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens organized a virtual roundtable assembling key government and industry leaders to discuss adaptation in combating the climate crisis. In attendance were Ban Ki-Moon, the 8th UN Secretary-General, Alok Sharma, the President-Designate of COP26, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, Prof. Patrick Verkooijen, CEO Global Centre on Adaptation, and Monika Froehler, CEO of the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens.

The leaders addressed the need for swift adaptation in climate action models for those who are the most vulnerable to oncoming natural disasters resulting from climate change. Specifically, Ban Ki-moon highlighted the need for accelerated action across Africa: “We need to take urgent action, as the world will experience climate disasters in magnitudes and intensities we have never experienced. I, therefore, call for bold and accelerated action on climate adaptation and resilience. Nowhere is action more needed than in Africa as it is currently the most vulnerable continent to climate change and it is projected to remain so, with increasing adverse impacts.”

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, and Prof. Patrick Verkooijen, CEO of Global Centre on Adaptation contributed updates on their respective organizations’ joint Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP). The AAAP scales and accelerates adaptation in Africa by identifying “triple win” solutions that address Covid-19, climate change, and the economy. With the support of donor countries, philanthropies, and private finance, the AAAP catalyzes sustainable climate action in Africa.

“Never have so many African leaders come together to spotlight the urgent importance of adaptation and commit to incorporating resilience as part of their COVID recovery efforts,” said Patrick Verkooijen, highlighting encouraging progress.

Expanding the scope of discussion beyond Africa, Ban thanked the UK government for hosting the G7 Summit and COP26 and for committing $100 billion per year for climate finance. However, he also called upon UK leaders to further their efforts. Particularly, he reinforced the call for the UK to become a leading donor to the worldwide research group, CGIAR. “Global champions like CGIAR need to receive more funding for the acceleration of adaptation in agriculture, to ensure food security, protect biodiversity and mitigate climate emissions at the same time,” Ban underscored.

Alok Sharma, President of COP26, reiterated that adaptation in climate action is paramount to the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) set to take place in Glasgow on 31 October – 12 November 2021. Further, COP discussions on November 8th will be dedicated to “Adaptation, Loss, and Damage.”

“We need to use every opportunity before and at COP26 for the advocacy efforts of the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens, the Global Center on Adaptation, the African Development Bank, and Global Citizen, calling upon world leaders to strengthen and increase financial commitments to adaptation in Africa, especially in the agricultural sector,”, stated Monika Froehler, CEO of the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens.

The Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens hosted this roundtable to build momentum for climate action ahead of COP26, and it will continue to call on donor governments, philanthropies, and the private sector to make concrete financial commitments towards life-saving climate action.

About Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens

The Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens’ mission is to empower women and youth with SDG knowledge, 21st-century skills, and global citizen values to live in a peaceful and prosperous world - leaving no one behind, based on the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Climate Agreement. Working with governments, civil society, academia, and international organizations the BKMC reaches more than 700,000 people around the world. Located in Vienna, Austria, the BKMC is co-chaired by the 8th Secretary-General of the UN, Ban Ki-moon, and 11th President of the Republic of Austria, Heinz Fischer

Contact:

Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens
Katre Olmez
Communications Lead
katre.olmez@bankimooncentre.org