November 3, 2021
Albert Baron Ansu
Speaking at the 26th Conference of the United Nations Framework Conventions on Climate Change President Julius Maada Bio has observed that it is not easy to go green but Sierra Leone will go green.
He used the occasion to make a passionate case noy only for Sierra Leone but Africa as whole in rising above the five percent climate financing stream.
“We need support from global climate financing streams. Africa has access to less than 5% of global climate financing. We also need the support of larger economies and the international financial community to de-risk private capital and green investments, “President Bio stated.
He added: “We stand ready to invest in green energy sources with smaller environmental footprints. We have introduced some off-grid solar electrification to some towns, but we need to expand those investments to other towns and make them even more affordable. Cheaper and affordable solar systems will expand energy access to more Sierra Leoneans.”
President Bio was able to impress on the global platform that Sierra Leone lacks the global space for investment in climate change action.
He spoke about the country’s most diverse ecosystems in the world: inland wetlands and forests across 4 main relief regions, about 15,000 plant species, the most diverse fish stocks along the west coast of Africa, and 761 species of mammals and birds.”
He however spoke about the vulnerability of the country citing the “adverse effects of climate change, rapid biodiversity and tree cover loss, and the attendant threats to human habitat, health, food, and water security. As a consequence, other fallouts like poverty, gender disparities, and youth unemployment are intensifying especially in the COVID-19 era.”
In terms of progress the country had made President Bio stated that: “We stand ready to invest in green energy sources with smaller environmental footprints. We have introduced some off-grid solar electrification to some towns, but we need to expand those investments to other towns and make them even more affordable. Cheaper and affordable solar systems will expand energy access to more Sierra Leoneans.”