UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday urged the global community to act together to make Africa a global leader in renewable energy to help the region address the increasing effects of climate change.
"[My point is] making Africa a world leader in renewable energy and green growth ... We must all work together for Africa to become a renewable energy superpower," Guterres said at the Africa Climate Summit in Kenya.
The UN secretary-general stressed the need to reform the global financial system to ensure that all resources produced and traded in Africa generate the maximum added value to the regional countries, which would facilitate their transition to green energy.
During his speech, Guterres also called on the G20 members, which are responsible for around 80% of global greenhouse gas emissions, to assume their responsibilities in tackling climate change.
The first Africa Climate Summit is taking place in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, from September 4-6. The summit is expected to be attended by leaders of at least 16 African countries, the Kenyan daily newspaper reported on Tuesday, adding that African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen would also attend the event.