South Sudan plans to raise climate ambition amid ‘dire’ humanitarian crisis

(Climate Home News, 8 Mar 2021) Torn by conflict and suffering from severe droughts and flooding, South Sudan is stepping up its climate ambition.

South Sudanese officials hope the world’s newest country can become carbon neutral by 2030, with a rollout of renewable energy and mass tree planting. But aid cuts, a slump in oil revenue and the legacy of civil war pose major hurdles to decarbonisation.

A draft plan seen by Climate Home News, which government aims to submit to the UN in early summer, hinges on international support. Of the estimated $100 billion cost by 2030, 90% would need to come from external sources.

“We are trying to be carbon neutral by 2030. If we have the funds, we will be able to make it happen. If the funds are not there, we will be looking at 2050,” South Sudan’s lead climate negotiator Joseph Bartel told Climate Home News from sweltering Juba, where temperature had risen above 40C.

“This country is really suffering from the impacts of climate change and we need to make sure that we are making our contribution to save our planet from this existential threat,” he said.

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Climate Home News, 8 Mar 2021: South Sudan plans to raise climate ambition amid ‘dire’ humanitarian crisis