Today, the destruction of natural environment at an alarming rate has led to frequent occurrence of typhoons, floods, intense heat, drought, etc. and these abnormal climate conditions, in turn, are posing a serious threat to the survival of the humankind.

Protection of environment of the earth-home and cradle of the human existence- is in need of genuine efforts of all the countries in the world, not being confined to specific country or region.

But even in the protection of environment, the Western countries turn a blind eye to the call of developing countries only for the pursuit of their own interests. Their hypocrisy is now exciting the disappointment of the entire world.

Until last year, the Western countries suspended the investment in the projects related to fossil fuel of African countries under the pretext of fighting against climate change.

However, when they came to face energy crisis, they changed their previous stand and included gas and nuclear energy projects in “green investment” list and so on. Moreover, they abruptly demand that Africa increase the production of natural gas.

Over such contradictory attitude of the Western countries, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa censured them as follows:

It is nonsensical that the West - which had once insisted that the African countries should stop exploiting fossil fuel - demands the increase in gas production for Europe after the Ukrainian crisis.

While participating in Africa Adaptation Summit recently held in Netherlands, the Senegalese President, Chairperson of the African Union, said that he couldn’t help being offended by the Western countries’ absence from the summit, insisting that the West should shoulder the necessary financial burden required for climate change actions as it has polluted the earth.

The President of DR Congo also expressed deep disappointment over the non-attendance of the Western countries with the biggest responsibility for climate change lamenting that the African countries are the most serious victims of climate change although they are least accountable for it.

African countries are now strongly urging the Western countries to immediately fulfill their commitment to their pledged funding for action for climate change which is worth 100 billion USD, saying that the greenhouse gas emissions in Africa are only 4% of the global total, while the population of Africa accounts for 17% of the world population.

All these facts vividly illustrate the hypocritical behavior of the Western countries which are evading from their responsibility and moral duty for climate change, an important matter of urgency for human existence.

Jong Il Min

Member of Korea-Africa Association