8/11/2019 Allocution du Prsident de la Rpublique gabonaise, Ali BONGO ONDIMBA - dbat thmatique sur le climat

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REPUBLIQUE GABONAISE UNION-TRAVAIL-JUSTICE

Dbat Thmatique sur le Climat, Sant,et Emploi Co-prsid par le Chef de lEtat

Gabonais et la Finlande

New York, le 23 Septembre, 2014

8/11/2019 Allocution du Prsident de la Rpublique gabonaise, Ali BONGO ONDIMBA - dbat thmatique sur le climat

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President Niinist,

My Fellow Presidents,

Ministers,

Ambassadors,

Distinguished Representatives of NGOs and Civil

society,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In Africa, the most severe impact of climate change is likely to be itsimpact on rainfall. Paradoxically, it is likely to be the people living in

already water-stressed environments, such as the people of the Sahel,who are most impacted, whilst countries like Gabon, in the equatorialbelt, may even experience increased rainfall over the next century,provided we maintain our forest cover.

Models predict that in the Sahel, rainfall may fall by as much as 50% incoming decades. If this proves to be true, the impact on the people ofthe region will be catastrophic - crops will fail and people who already go

to bed hungry, will starve. Their weakened immune systems will not beable to protect them and the cycle of famine and disease will reap a hugetoll.

Mass migration will ensue, with the potential to destabilize an entirecontinent.

Even in the rain forest belt, where deforestation has removed forest

cover, streams silt up and run dry. This is already occurring across muchof West Africa, from Sierra Leone to Benin. As ecosystem services fail,in the wake of deforestation and climate change, people pay a heavypenalty, whilst the speed of climate change is further accelerated.

The changes in the environment linked to deforestation and climatechange will bring people into more regular contact with diseases, whichpreviously have been rare.

8/11/2019 Allocution du Prsident de la Rpublique gabonaise, Ali BONGO ONDIMBA - dbat thmatique sur le climat

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We are all intensely aware of the Ebola crisis in West Africa and ourhearts go out to the people of Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia. Ebola isa disease that is prevalent across tropical Africa, but which only rarelymakes the jump from its likely reservoir, the fruit bats, to humans,

generally after a primate has been infected.

We do not understand the ecology of the disease fully so it is difficult tomake accurate predictions about the consequences of climate change.However, several different, plausible scenarios would lead to an increasein Ebola emergence rates. We cannot afford to play roulette with oureconomies or the lives of our children.

We have to work together to restore balance. Healthy ecosystems makefor healthy people. Today our activities are degrading the natural capitalof our planet and the changes we are starting to see represent a severethreat to human well-being and prosperity. We have to act together. Wehave to act decisively. And we have to act now.

In so doing we may be able to change a negative into a positive. Theactions and technological improvements we will need to develop if weare to successfully mitigate climate change could provide the foundationsfor a new, green economy; providing quality employment and socialdevelopment for millions.

Over the last 24 hours we have seen the public take to the streets in acall for action. During today's debate we have heard many reasons whyas politicians we cannot dodge this bullet - we have to take the challengeof climate change head on. We have to act, all together, and we have to

act now.

It is an honor to co-chair this important meeting with President SauliNiinist of Finland, with the very distinguished panel of experts, andsuch a knowledgeable and engaged audience.

I look forwards to working with you all to restore balance in our planet,thereby securing a future for generations to come

Thank you.