Outlines Equatorial Guinea’s carbon dioxide reduction plan and calls for increased cuts from the most developed nations
Equatorial Guinean President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo spoke at the 21st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris this week about the country’s pledged emissions cuts and the need for global cooperation to protect the environment.
Equatorial Guinea will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent in 2030 and 50 percent in 2050. To achieve this, Obiang called for global economic and technical assistance.
Obiang highlighted that five nations are responsible for over 55 percent of emissions and called for these industrialized nations to become accountable and reduce their emissions even further.
He recognized that the climate situation involves the global community as a whole and it is in the best interest of everyone to come to a firm agreement to safeguard humanity.
Obiang’s speech was made in front of the over 150 world leaders who attended the conference in addition to United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon and leading climate authorities.
In addition to his speech, Obiang held bilateral meetings with his international counterparts and other high-level meetings.
Equatorial Guinea is located in the Congo River Basin, home to some of the largest undisturbed tropical rainforests in the world, and has seen first-hand the effects of climate change.
The goal of COP21 is to come to an International Agreement for post-2020 to reduce the emissions of harmful gasses into the atmosphere in an attempt to curb the recent global temperature fluctuations.