‘Our attention has been diverted by war’ – Ramaphosa calls Global North to step up climate action at UN General Assembly

« South African President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the 78th United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday. During his speech, the leader called for ‘wealthier countries’ of the Global North take action to solve the problems the UN has long discussed, especially the fight against climate change.
« At the moment when every human effort should be directed towards the realization of Agenda 2030, our attention and our energies have once again been diverted by the scourge of war. But these woes, these divisions, these seemingly intractable troubles, can and must be overcome », the South African president said.
« It is a matter of great concern to us from the Global South that these wealthier countries in the Global North have failed to meet their undertakings to provide a 100 billion dollars a year for developing economies to take climate action. This must be changed and the money must be made available in the interest of development », Ramaphosa declared.
The General Debate at the 78th session will hear from around 140 world leaders on a range of global and regional issues, including war in Ukraine, climate change, political upheaval in West Africa, economic instability, and a number of recent natural disasters.
Other world leaders such as US president Joe Biden or Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky also addressed the meeting on the first day. The leaders of France, the UK, China and Russia are not attending, with the countries sending representatives instead. »



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