UN Chief António Guterres Urges Wealthy Nations to Honour Climate Finance Commitments in Lesotho

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called on wealthy nations to fulfil their pledges to assist poorer countries in combating climate change. During his address to Lesotho's Parliament, he reiterated his aspiration for Africa to gain permanent seats on the UN Security Council. Guterres is currently on a three-day tour of southern Africa, having visited South Africa before arriving in Lesotho.

In Lesotho, Guterres emphasised the financial support needed by impoverished nations to tackle climate change. Despite Africa's minimal contribution to global warming, it remains one of the most affected regions. At recent UN climate talks in Azerbaijan, an agreement was reached to allocate at least USD 300 billion annually to aid developing countries. However, this falls short of the over USD 1 trillion that these nations had requested.

Climate Finance and Global Responsibilities

Guterres urged developed countries to honour their commitments and provide the promised USD 300 billion each year for climate finance. He highlighted the vulnerability of landlocked and least developed countries like Lesotho. "Landlocked and least developed countries like yours are especially vulnerable," he stated. He also stressed the importance of swiftly operationalising and generously funding the new Loss and Damage Fund, designed to compensate poorer nations for climate-related disasters.

Southern Africa is currently experiencing one of its worst droughts, leading to a hunger crisis affecting over 27 million people, according to the UN. Lesotho is among several nations that have declared national disasters due to the drought's severe impact on agriculture. The drought is attributed to the El Niño weather phenomenon, while other crises like cholera outbreaks and floods in East Africa are linked to climate change.

Africa's Representation on Global Platforms

During his visit to South Africa, Guterres expressed his hope that Africa would secure at least two permanent seats on the Security Council by December 2026, when his term concludes. He acknowledged the challenges involved but described it as an "injustice" that a continent with over 1.4 billion people lacks permanent representation. "When a continent that is home to nearly a fifth of humanity remains systematically excluded from global decision-making, we must call this what it is, a relic of colonialism that has no place in today's world," Guterres said.

On Friday, Guterres plans to visit the Katse Dam in Lesotho. This dam is part of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, which aims to construct a series of dams and tunnels. The project seeks to divert some of Lesotho's water into South Africa's river system, helping alleviate water shortages in neighbouring areas.

A report by the World Meteorological Organization this year highlighted that African nations are losing up to 5% of their GDP annually due to climate change impacts. These countries bear a disproportionate burden compared to others globally. Guterres' visit underscores the urgent need for international cooperation and support for vulnerable regions facing environmental challenges.