British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has challenged developed countries to help developing ones in dealing with the effects of climate change. He made the call at the opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali on June 24. The 26th CHOGM is the 6th to be held in Africa and drew over 5000 delegates. Johnson said that developed countries have an obligation to help developing countries, including those in Africa, to cope with the effects of climate change. “The baleful effects of climate change are not vague or theoretical, but already happening before their eyes…And we in the developed world have an obligation to help our friends to cope with a danger they had no hand in causing.” His call came as a re-emphasis of the commitments made at COP26 in Glasgow last November were several leaders spoke with urgency and authority about the perils of quilting the earth with greenhouse gases. Prior to the official opening of CHOGM, several forums notably the youth, women, business and people forums were convened. They all centred on the effects of the pandemic and recovery, creating opportunities and, women and girls’ rights. The pandemic posed a common threat to all humanity and the same is true of catastrophic climate change. “And if I could imagine a silver bullet that would solve an array of problems and transform countless lives, it would be to give every girl in the world the chance to go to school,” said Boris as he spoke on the way forward in responding to several global challenges. The previous CHOGM held in the UK announced US$250 million for the Girls’ Education Challenge, and the initiative is now at work in 11 Commonwealth countries, ensuring that girls are able to gain at least 12 years of quality education. “We need to empower them to play their full part in the economy when they leave school, so the UK is funding the “She Trades” Commonwealth programme, which has already helped over 3,500 women-owned businesses to become more competitive and generate more than £32 million of sales,” said Boris. At the end of the Commonwealth summit, Boris will hand over the Chair-In-Office to President Kagame. This implies that Rwanda will be at the helm of the worlds biggest club of nations for the next two year.
