Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu differed with President William Ruto over his strategy for climate financing during the East Africa Community (EAC) Heads of State meeting in Arusha.
Speaking during the meeting on Climate Change, Suluhu opined that her colleagues in the African Continent needed to focus their energies on generating their own resources to address the global issue rather than depending on developed countries.
While she did not mention the specific leaders she was referring to, she noted that dependence on the international community would derail the programmes addressing Climate Change.
Suluhu cited some of the promises that were yet to be fulfilled by other countries, especially those in Europe, in her defence.
"It is high time that we as Africans stop depending on others and come up with strategies to have our own resources for climate financing. Because if we depend on others, then we will get derailed.
"Right now, we are heading to COP28 but the finances promised in the previous ones have not yet come. For all those nationally determined contributions, let us go and implement them," she opined.
Ruto has been championing reforms at various international institutions with regard to climate financing. The Head of State has also been leveraging carbon credits to raise finance for climate change programmes.
From the plan, the carbon credits will be sold to companies that pollute the environment.
Meanwhile, Ruto, at the EAC meeting, called for a concerted effort to push for climate financing reforms at the COP28, which is scheduled to take place in Dubai from November 30 until December 12, 2023.
"At COP 28, Africa will be calling for a new financial charter that will reform the current international financial system, which is an impediment to the inclusive and sustainable development required to mitigate climate change.
"Africa has immense renewable energy reserves and the largest swathes of uncultivated arable land in the world, resources that are enough to lead a new era of green industrialization for the world," Ruto's statement dated November 24 read in part.
Presidents present at the meeting were Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Salva Kiir (South Sudan), and Evariste Ndayishimiye (Burundi), among other officials.
