Mauritania's Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Massouda Bent Bhahim Mohamed Laghdaf, has departed for Antalya, Turkey, to lead the country's participation in the 31st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, also known as COP31. The conference will run from November 9 to 20, with a summit of heads of state and government scheduled for November 11 and 12.
Minister Laghdaf recently held a preparatory meeting in Nouakchott to discuss Mauritania's priorities for the conference, which include climate change adaptation, climate finance, and sustainable development. The meeting was attended by Turkish Ambassador to Nouakchott Burhan Kavakoglu, UN Development Programme Resident Representative, and the head of the International Organization for Migration mission.
At the Climate Week in New York in September, Minister Laghdaf called for enhanced international cooperation to address the pressing issues of climate change, highlighting the increasing pressures faced by countries in the region due to drought, desertification, and land degradation. Mauritania is among the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including sand encroachment, declining pastures, and coastal erosion.
The conference in Antalya is being hosted by Turkey, which will also preside over the event, while Australia will chair the negotiations between countries. According to the UN, global emissions need to decline by 45% by 2035 compared to 2025 levels to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. However, current pledges, if fully implemented, would only result in a reduction of 11-15%.
The Turkish government expects the conference to attract over 100,000 visitors. A recent report by the UN Environment Programme estimated that the world is far from meeting its climate goals, with current national plans insufficient to meet the 1.5°C target.
Mauritania's government is taking steps to address the impacts of climate change, including launching a project to protect the coastal strip of Nouakchott from erosion at a cost of approximately €60 million. The country's participation in COP31 aims to secure international support and funding for its climate action plans.
The outcome of COP31 will be crucial in determining the future of global climate action, with countries expected to enhance their Nationally Determined Contributions to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Key points
- Mauritania's priorities for COP31 include climate change adaptation, climate finance, and sustainable development.
- The conference aims to accelerate global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve a more sustainable future.
- Mauritania is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts, including desertification, drought, and coastal erosion.
