Geingob to participate in the World Leaders’ Summit

Staff Reporter

PRESIDENT Hage Geingob will attend the World Leaders’ Summit of the 27th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 27), scheduled to take place from 7 to 8 November 2022 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

The focus of COP 27 is on adaptation, implementation and finance as ways to achieve zero-carbon development and effective adaptation to climate change.

The goal is to build on past successes and pave the way for ambitious plans to tackle climate change in the future. President Geingob was invited by the President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the president of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

The invitation to the UNFCCC COP 27 emphasises the importance of world leaders implementing and transforming key climate-related decisions, building on previous Conferences of the Parties’ outcomes, including the Glasgow COP 26 outcomes, and maintaining a high-level commitment to climate change issues. COP 27 provides opportunities for all stakeholders to rise to the occasion and effectively address the global challenge of climate change on the African continent.

Dr Alfredo Hengari, the presidential spokesperson, shared that Namibia remains committed to combating the effects of climate change and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to cut carbon emissions by 91% by 2030, towards the fulfilment of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13 on climate action, the Paris Agreement and Goal 7 of Africa’s Agenda 2063.

Furthermore, he added that Namibia is on the road with initiatives to start producing clean energy through Green Hydrogen to respond to the global challenges of climate change and to meet the energy demand globally.
“When it is fully successful, this project will contribute to the supply of energy in the global south and other parts of the world. Namibia is one of the founding countries of the Oceans Panel, whose work focuses on the sustainability of the world’s oceans and commitment to combat climate change. Namibia welcomes and values the opportunity to participate in this crucial summit as a country heavily impacted by climate change,” Hengari said.

On the margins of COP 27, President Geingob will also attend the African Leaders event on “Accelerating Adaption in Africa” on 7 November 2022 at the invitation of President Macky Sall, the president of Senegal and Chair of the African Union (AU).

On the same day, President Geingob will take part in a panel discussion called “Building Partnerships in Green Hydrogen.” The discussion will be led by Belgian Prime Minister De Croo and Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Madboury.

On 8 November 2022, President Geingob will deliver the national statement to COP 27 and will also attend the high-level side event to be hosted by the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz. On the same day, President Geingob will participate in the Signing Ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Namibia and the European Union (EU) on sustainable raw material value chains and renewable hydrogen. President Geingob will further participate in the bilateral meeting requested by the United States (U.S) Department of State Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Molly Phee.

Lastly, President Geingob will also attend the High-Level Nature and Climate Event at the Baron Resort Sharm El-Sheikh, Bella Vista, which will be hosted by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

President Hage Geingob departed on Sunday, 6 November 2022, and will return home on Wednesday, 9 November 2022.