By: Justicia Shipena
Popular Democratic Movement’s President, McHenry Venaani, called upon the Namibian delegation going to the 26th Congress of Parties (COP26) to deliver a robust debate on climate change and not go there to drink coffee.
Venaani said this at the party’s conference on reviewing its policy conference and election.
Venaani said Namibian delegations tend to go to international events for photo opportunities with world leaders without addressing national issues.
“So, I want to call upon President Geingob to prepare the delegation of Namibia to make valuable points. I want to see your voice at COP26,” he said.
He added that Namibia must take the fight as climate change affects the country too.
“We must take centre stage at COP26 to demand developed countries to give us a fair share to mitigate the challenges of climate change,” he stressed.
Venaani further said it’s no secret that developing countries release an infinite portion of carbon emissions. He said the first world needs to land a helping hand to the developing world in the battle against climate change.
“The other day, Cyril Ramaphosa even outsmarted us at the UN General Assembly. He spoke about slavery to be brought on the agenda. We have a country that is suffering from the issue of genocide, and our delegation does not even raise the question of genocide at the general assembly,” he lauded.
Namibia will participate in COP26, held in Glasgow, Scotland, from 1 to 12 November 2021.
According to the environment forestry and tourism ministry, Namibia will Be represented at COP26 at both technical and political levels.
At the political level, President Hage Geingob will be delivering his statement on 2 November.
Namibia will focus on renewable energy and forestry.
“You may be aware we have one of the best solar regimes in the world. We, therefore, urge parties to agree on the extent and rules for these markets to implement the Paris rulebook fully,” said the environment minister’s spokesperson Romeo Muyunda.
Namibia will also focus on adaptation, mitigation, technology development and transfer, loss and damage from climate change impacts, and capacity building.
Cop26 is a follow up to the 2019 COP25, which was held in Madrid, Spain.
COP26 aims to bring forward the 2030 emissions reductions targets that align with reaching net zero by the middle of the century.
The summit is a supreme decision-making body of the Convention at which countries review the implementation of the Convention and any other legal instruments that the COP adopts.
