Mauritania's economic development hampered by climate change issues, says president

Mauritania continues to suffer from the consequences of the climate crisis, such as floods and desertification, which hinder the country's economic development, President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani stated during his speech at the World Leaders Climate Action Summit at COP29, held in Baku, Report informs.

The president noted that despite Mauritania's minimal contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions, the country continues to suffer from the consequences of the climate crisis, such as desertification: “Despite the small volume of emissions, we are actively limiting emissions. We also apply taxes, restore damaged areas, make efforts to switch to renewable energy sources, and adapt to realities.”

He added that currently, 48% of Mauritania's energy consumption comes from renewable sources, with plans to increase this figure to 60% by 2030. The president called on the international community to support Mauritania in its energy transition efforts.

Ould Ghazouani emphasized that the negative consequences of climate change, including rising global temperatures, pose a serious threat to humanity. "This makes it particularly necessary to accelerate the fight against climate change. We have a historic responsibility to make decisions and rectify the situation before it is too late," he highlighted.

The Mauritanian leader expressed gratitude to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for the excellent organization of the COP29 climate conference and to the UAE President for the effectiveness of COP28 held in Dubai in 2023.