Chakwera justifies trip to CoP27
President Lazarus Chakwera yesterday justified his trip to Sharma El Sheik in Egypt where he attended the United Nations Conference of Parties (CoP27) on climate change, saying the sacrifice was neccessary for the country to benefit later.
Speaking yesterday to Malawian journalists covering the conference in Egypt, the President, who said was returning back today instead of Friday, reiterated that he travelled to the conference to sign various agreements apart from voicing out concerns on climate on behalf of Least Development Countries.
Said Chakwera: “Sometimes we die so that we can live. Investments are always risky because you don’t know the outcome. But we have to act with faith.
“When you come and you are at the table negotiating plus signing agreements, people take you seriously. That said, we have made agreements here which will benefit our people at home.”
He further said at times a farmer takes a seed to plant when a baby is crying at home because he wants to harvest tomorrow.
“That’s acting with faith and that is what I have done,” said Chakwera.
Speaking earlier during the launch of the African Carbon Markets Initiative, he said a total of 600 000 tonnes of carbon credits were produced by Malawi last year alone, indicating that there is a huge potential in the carbon markets.
While at the opening of the conference on Tuesday, Chakwera said there is a strong need for urgency in regards to climate change, stressing that humanity is running out of time on the premise that nature is losing its patience and lashing out with unrelenting vengeance.
The President, therefore, said the key to addressing climate change is sustainable development and restoring the balance between the relationship between humanity and nature.
Chakwera will leave behind in Egypt Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale, Minister of Energy Ibrahim Matola, Minister of Foreign Affairs Nancy Tembo, Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change Eisenhower Mkaka and Secretary to the President and Cabinet Colleen Zamba, among other officials.
