Statement at the 1st National Climate Resilience & Energy Transition Dialogue by the UN Resident Coordinator

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

I am happy to be participating in this first national dialogue to initiate the processes for developing a just and inclusive energy transition plan for Sierra Leone and a climate-resilient agriculture and food systems transformation strategy in line with the government’s development ambitions and plans.  

Climate Action features prominently among the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by UN member states in 2015 as part of Agenda 2030, a universal ‘call to action’ to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. 

Climate Action is the focus of SDG 13, but Agenda 2030 emphasises its interlinkages with the other 16 SDGs since sustainable shared prosperity depends on environmental sustainability. In this regard, the UN country team applauds Mr. President’s decision to add ‘Climate Change’ to the name and mandate of the Ministry of Environment and to appoint a Presidential Adviser for Climate Change, Renewable Energy, and Food Security.  These are important steps towards realising objectives outlined in the country’s key climate documents, including the Nationally Determined Contribution, which highlights climate impacts in several sectors, including agriculture and food security, environment and natural resources, marines and fisheries, infrastructure, disaster preparedness and management, water resources and sanitation, and public health.

It is clear from the well-crafted agenda of this 1st National Climate Resilience and Energy Transition Dialogue that one positive development that is likely to be generated by the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy, and Food Security is a shift in policy mindset towards integrated approaches that simultaneously address at scale several development challenges such as renewable energy interventions that directly link with improved agro-processing operations, or irrigation infrastructures that not only support climate-smart agriculture but also support reforestation, hydro energy generation, and expansion of access to safe drinking water. This policy approach is an absolute necessity in the prevailing context of significant financial resource constraints and the urgent need to accelerate progress towards the attainment of national development priorities and the SDGs.

It is our hope that this Dialogue will also help move the country further up the pathway for developing bankable projects that enable it to use its impressive natural assets (forests, agricultural assets, water resources, biodiversity, and solar endowment) to access the large and growing streams of international climate finance facilities and opportunities including green bonds, carbon credit markets, blue bonds, and debt-for-nature swaps. We know from the recent successes of Gabon, Rwanda, and Kenya that climate finance can be an important source of financing for economic recovery and sustainable development.  We also hope that greater clarity and commitment will emerge from this dialogue on the part of the government, development partners, CSOs, and the private sector on the deployment of public-private partnerships to redirect public and private investment toward sustainable projects and climate-friendly business models in high-impact sectors such as extractives, infrastructure, and agriculture.

Finally, it is our wish that this 2-day dialogue will be a very productive one that generates practical recommendations and concrete follow-up actions.

Thank you.