Leaders set for online climate adaptation summit

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THE HAGUE, Jan 25, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – World leaders are set to appear online
on Monday at the first summit dedicated to making the planet more resilient
to the effects of climate change.

Leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor
Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson are expected to
contribute by video link to the Climate Adaptation Summit, hosted by the
Netherlands.

The meeting, also featuring current UN chief Antonio Guterres and former
head Ban Ki-moon, will produce an “adaptation action agenda” for dealing with
effects such as rising sea levels, extreme weather and crop failure.

“This year 2021, will have several milestones on where and when the world
leaders and world people will really show their strong commitment. We have
not done much on adaptation” so far, Ban Ki-moon told reporters last week.

Former US secretary of state and Joe Biden’s newly-appointed climate envoy
John Kerry will speak at the summit, as will Deputy Chinese Prime Minister
Han Zheng.

Kerry has acknowledged that he will need to work to restore Washington’s
credibility as he seeks to build more robust global action to address the
crisis.

The summit is being held almost entirely online because of the coronavirus
pandemic.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said his country, a third of which lies
below sea-level, had centuries of experience in keeping out the water and
hoped to teach others.

At the summit, Boris Johnson will announce the launch of an Adaptation
Action Coalition, in partnership with Egypt, Bangladesh, Malawi, the
Netherlands, Saint Lucia and the United Nations.

The new grouping “will work to turn international political commitments
made through the United Nations Call for Action on Adaptation and Resilience
into on-the-ground support for vulnerable communities,” his office said in a
statement.

“It is undeniable that climate change is already upon us and is already
devastating lives and economies,” Johnson is expected to say.

“We must adapt to our changing climate, and we must do so now– While
previous summits have focused on tackling the causes of climate change,
including reducing emissions, this is the first to concentrate on dealing
with its effects,” say organisers.

These include reducing the vulnerability of countries to rising sea
levels, extreme weather and food shortages.

Plans could include shoring up sea defences but also taking advantage of
opportunities including longer growing seasons for crops, and new areas for
cultivating, organisers said.

Ban Ki-moon meanwhile welcomed the fact that new US President Joe Biden
had decided to have the United States rejoin the Paris climate agreement.

“It’s a hugely encouraging and excellent idea…. It has many significant
implications. All world leaders will be united.”