Government commits $10 million to tackle climate change

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: The Federal Government has committed USD $10 million to tackle the triple challenge of desertification, climate change and biodiversity which has caused hunger and loss of lives at the Horn of Africa country.

While launching the Great Green Wall Initiative (GGWI), president Mohamud said the project will be implemented in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

“Today we officially launch the Great Green Wall Initiative (GGWI) in Somalia and announce our financial commitment of 10 million dollars which will be part of our country’s allocation from the adaption fund in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development,” the president said.

He added that the initiative is a great milestone in the efforts by the Federal Government to address climate change and environmental degradation.

“Somalia’s succession to the Great Green Wall Initiative is a significant milestone in our country’s commitment to addressing climate change and environmental degradation that has caused so much suffering to our people.”

Following the launch, Somalia becomes the latest member state of the African Union to join the GGWI which already boasts of 36 countries from the Sahara, Sahel, Horn of Africa and Southern Africa drylands.

GGWI is expected to boost President Mohamud’s, ‘Regreening Somalia’ Initiative launched in October last year to plant 10 million trees to boost biodiversity and climate resilience and help combat the repeated cycles of devastating droughts in the country.

Speaking on behalf of the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union and Head of ATMIS, Ambassador Mohamed El-Amine Souef, ATMIS Police Commissioner, Hillary Sao Kanu, said the Mission will continue to support the FGS in its efforts to regreen the country.

“At the mission level, ATMIS has resolved to integrate environmental issues in all its operations. The decision is in line with the commitment made by ATMIS and UNSOS

Adding, “ATMIS with the support of UNSOS has already pledged to plant 30,000 trees around some 58 Forward Operating Bases before our final exit next year.”Elvis Tangem, the Coordinator of GGWI described the launch as historic emphasizing that Somalia was joining its neighbours, Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Eritrea – founding members of the initiative – to combat the effects of climate change.

“It is now time for action, we want to see all other restoration initiatives done by private individuals, NGOs, and government, all implemented as one – GGWI Somalia,” Dr Tangem noted.

The GGWI is a Pan-African flagship programme of the African Union. It was established in 2007 and aims at tackling desertification, climate change and loss of biodiversity through a broad belt of green projects from the Sahel to the Horn of Africa.