Hassan Istiila
Thursday February 29, 2024
Nairobi (HOL) - Somalia, which has recently emerged from four consecutive years of drought, is now grappling with unprecedented heat attributed to climate change, the Somali President said.
Addressing the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters in Nairobi on Thursday, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud underscored Somalia's frontline experience with the devastating impacts of climate crises, including prolonged droughts and floods, leading to severe humanitarian crises.
President Mohamud emphasized that Somalia has transitioned from a climate crisis stage to a state of climate emergency. "The time for debate is over. We must act now with effective, inclusive, and sustainable multilateral actions to address climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution," declared President Mohamud.
"Our government is committed to effectively managing and safeguarding Somalia's environment," he continued, "ensuring that our abundant resources, including our seas, fertile land, and wildlife, become opportunities for employment, production, green energy, and economic growth in our country and the entire Horn of Africa."
Being at the forefront of the countries most affected by climate change, Somalia remains highly vulnerable. Last year, the Somali government launched the National Regreening Initiative, aiming to plant 10 million trees across Somalia to enhance biodiversity and climate resilience and combat deforestation amid devastating droughts. Additionally, earlier this year, the government banned single-use plastics harmful to the environment.
Moreover, this year's conference coincides with the enactment of the Environmental Protection and Management Law by the Somali government, signed into law by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud last Sunday. This legislation provides for sustainable environmental protection and management, effectively allocating administrative responsibilities for environmental management and coordinating ecological management and related activities.
The recent El Niño rains have affected more than 2.5 million people in Somalia, leading to the displacement of 1.2 million people from their homes and causing 118 deaths. A total of 2,943 new cholera cases and 26 deaths have been reported in Somalia since January 2024.
President Mohamud stressed the critical importance of accessible and affordable climate financing for developing nations like Somalia. He emphasized that the current climate financing structure is inadequate for addressing the scale of the challenges faced by the most vulnerable countries.