The importance of a fair price per tonne of carbon to support African countries in their development
As part of the 78th United Nations General Assembly, the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix Tshisekedi, underlined the importance of establishing a fair price for the tonne of carbon within a global carbon credit market better structured. He thus highlighted the need to support African countries which face the challenge of development.
President Tshisekedi expressed his incomprehension at the fact that certain companies and governments in Northern countries are investing billions of dollars in artificial carbon pumps, while they devote only a tiny part of this sum to forest conservation. tropical areas, real natural carbon sinks with multiple benefits for humans and nature.
He also underlined the Democratic Republic of Congo’s commitment to being part of the solution to climate change, while above all being a solution for its populations. The country has taken the ambitious decision to protect 15% of its national territory, or 323,623 km², into protected areas for the conservation of biodiversity. By 2030, the DRC aims to conserve more than 70 million hectares of biodiversity, including 30 million dedicated to community conservation.
President Tshisekedi also announced the creation of an investment fund for the new climate economy. This fund, fueled by part of the transactions carried out within the framework of carbon credits, as well as by funds from external partners such as the country envelope within the FCLP (Forest & Climate Leaders Partnership), will be a vehicle for capital and mixed governance.
This mini-summit on climate change, co-organized by the DRC and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), was held in the presence of the President of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou Nguesso, president of the commission climate of the Congo Basin countries.
This speech by President Tshisekedi highlights the importance of a fair price per tonne of carbon and a better structured global carbon credit market to support African countries in their fight against climate change and their sustainable development. It also highlights the DRC’s commitment to the conservation of biodiversity and the creation of an investment fund to promote a more equitable and beneficial climate economy for all.