The President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, has suggested converting the debt of African countries into climate investments. This measure is seen as a way of compensating the least polluting countries that face the greatest consequences of climate change.
During the closing ceremony of the International Conference on the Sustainable and Integrated Management of the Miombo Forest, held in Washington, USA, President Nyusi stressed that Mozambique, like many African countries, contributes little to climate change, but suffers significantly from its effects.
President Nyusi emphasized the importance of finding fair ways to transform countries’ debt into climate finance. This would free up resources for environmental conservation programs and help tackle challenges such as droughts, floods and cyclones, which have a direct impact on food security, water scarcity and large-scale displacement of people.
“We believe that this conference reflects that the Miombo forest is not only a priority for the signatory countries of the Maputo Declaration, but also for all the inhabitants of planet Earth,” concluded President Nyusi.
The Maputo declaration on the Miombo forest, signed by Mozambique and other African countries, sets out priorities for the sustainable management and governance of the natural resources of the Miombo ecosystems. This ecosystem plays a vital role in the livelihoods of more than 300 million inhabitants of these countries.
