BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE– Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini has urged the global community to pursue inclusive and equitable climate action, asserting that nations most responsible for the climate crisis must take the lead in addressing it.
Delivering remarks on behalf of His Majesty King Mswati III at the Climate Summit in Belém, Brazil, the Prime Minister emphasised that Africa contributes minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions, yet suffers the most severe consequences of the crisis.
He called for adequate, accessible, and transformational climate financing models to support countries that contribute least to global emissions, describing the current international financial system as “simply not fit for purpose.”
The Prime Minister reaffirmed Eswatini’s readiness to play its part in tackling climate change but insisted that the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities must remain central to global climate efforts. He noted that wealthier nations, whose industrial activities have largely driven global warming, bear a moral and practical responsibility to lead corrective action.
He stressed that while Eswatini remains committed to climate action, it cannot do so at the expense of its people’s development. He warned against diverting resources from essential poverty alleviation efforts to address a crisis “that disproportionately benefited others.”
The Prime Minister described the ongoing environmental crisis as a “war humanity has waged against nature,” saying it had reached a point where it threatened human survival. He said corrective action was now an imperative rather than a choice, underscoring that climate action was “long overdue” and that its urgency “cannot be overstated.”
Highlighting the situation in Africa, he noted that the continent’s struggle was one of “survival and justice.” He pointed out that although Africa contributes less than 4% of global emissions, it continues to experience the worst effects of climate change. He cited Eswatini’s rain-fed agricultural sector, which sustains over 70% of the population, as being increasingly threatened by unpredictable weather patterns, water scarcity, soil degradation, and biodiversity loss — all of which place immense strain on rural communities.
Despite these challenges, the Prime Minister maintained that Eswatini refused to be defined by vulnerability. Instead, he said the Kingdom would continue to champion resilience, innovation, and unity as the foundation for a sustainable future. He called for simplified access to climate financing, noting that current procedures were overly complex for developing nations.
He reiterated that the existing global financial architecture must be transformed, shifting from aid-based models to strategic investments in local innovation.
Concluding his address, the Prime Minister called for global solidarity under the principle of “leaving no one behind.” He urged world leaders to ensure that every nation, including those excluded from full participation in international processes — such as the Republic of China (Taiwan) — be included in the collective response to what he described as “one of the greatest challenges humanity will ever face.”
(Courtesy Pic)
