The Secretary-General met today in Paris with H.E. Mr. John Dramani Mahama, President of Ghana, H.E. Mr. Alpha Condé, President of Guinea, H.E. Mr. Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, President of Mali, H.E. Mr.Mahamadou Issoufou, President of Niger and H.E. Mr. Muhammadu Buhari, President of Nigeria, in the margins of COP21 in Paris.

They discussed the urgent need to reach an ambitious agreement on climate change that addresses the needs of the most vulnerable countries, especially in the context of significant challenges such as the disappearance of Lake Chad, deforestation and reduced rainfall in West Africa.
The Secretary-General commended Africa’s proactive leadership on the issue of climate change, as demonstrated by the initiatives on renewable energy and on adaptation the continent launched in Paris. The Secretary-General and the Presidents agreed that climate finance, parity between adaptation and mitigation and access to renewable energy technology were key issues for African countries.

The Secretary-General and the African leaders also agreed to exchange ideas and work together towards effective ways of preventing and countering terrorism.