Ruto handed standing ovation after speech at Pan African Parliament
President William Ruto received a standing ovation after his speech at the Pan-African Parliament in South Africa on May 17, 2023.
The Head of State who is in the counry on a two day visit and in his address to the Pan-African Parliament Summit on Climate Policy and Equity, stressed that Africa as a continent will no longer take a back seat at the global summit.
He explained that instead, the continent will and must be heard in any decision making on climate change.
“We want to occupy every space, we will be consistent, we will be coherent, we will be audible until there is no place to hide. Until the conferences have stopped. Otherwise, we will make them loud, we will make them chaotic, and there will be consequences if we are not heard. We refuse to remain on the sidelines,” said President Ruto.
The President said the risks of not being at the table where decisions are being made is that you could be on the menu.
The statement attracted cheers from all those present.
President Ruto also suggested the introduction of reforms in the United Nations Security Council so as to transform it from an exclusive club of five permanent members to a more representative global council that works for the interests of the whole world.
He said Africa demands and deserves two permanent seats on the Security Council.
“Countries that were not self-determining have since gained independence and are making a tremendous contribution to their peoples, continents and the world.”
The President said that focusing on climate action is a commitment that will lead Africa to lasting security, sustainable stability and shared prosperity.
“Our continent’s abundant wealth of natural resources, immense endowment of untapped green renewable energy and our youthful demographic profile precisely constitute the fundamental elements required to mitigate and then reverse climate change while driving a new, green industrial revolution.”
On climate change, the President said that Kenya is leading in reducing emissions by using the green energy as its national grid consists of 92 per cent of renewable energy, and that the country is planning to make its grid to 100 per cent renewable by 2030.
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