President Akufo-Addo Calls for Urgent Global Action on Climate Change and Poverty at UN General Assembly

President Nana Akufo-Addo has urged world leaders to take swift and decisive action to address the severe impacts of climate change, especially in Africa. Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York, he highlighted the stark reality that, despite Africa’s minimal contribution to global emissions, the continent faces disproportionate consequences, including floods and desertification.

Akufo-Addo emphasized that combating climate change is not a choice but an immediate necessity that requires global cooperation. “Africa cannot continue to bear the burden of a crisis it did not create,” he asserted, advocating for fairness and climate justice, not charity. He called for a system that benefits all nations, rather than just a privileged few.

“At the heart of today’s crisis is the climate emergency, which threatens humanity’s very existence,” the President declared. “We are already feeling its devastating effects. We are told to adapt and be resilient, but how does one adapt to famine or build resilience when farmers cannot predict the seasons?”

In his speech, Akufo-Addo also addressed the global inequality crisis, drawing attention to the fact that over 700 million people—8.57% of the world’s population—still live in extreme poverty. He urged world leaders to act on the growing disparity between the rich and poor, stressing that it must weigh heavily on their consciences.

“As President, the vast gap between the rich and poor should be a sustained act on our conscience,” he noted, calling for global efforts to bridge this divide and create a more equitable world.