07.07.23 – von Maria Koch & Alagie Cherno Suwareh –

Deutsche Übersetzung

How far has the world come in its attempt to stop the climate catastrophe? Eight years after the conclusion of the Paris Agreement, the UN Climate Summit in Dubai is to take stock with a "Global Stocktake", a worldwide stocktaking on climate protection, and decide on further action. In preparation, the "small climate conference" met in Bonn from 5 to 15 June 2023.

Alagie Cherno Suwareh took part in the preparatory conference as one of eight delegates from The Gambia. During the conference, he was accommodated with a host family from Bornheim. For us, it was an opportunity to reflect on our own position and to look at the issue of climate protection from the perspective of one of the poorest countries.

Alagie, you are a delegate from the Gambia at the preparatory climate conference in Bonn. Tell us a bit about yourself and why you are participating in the conference.

My name is Alagie Cherno Suwareh. I am the founder of a project called “Golden Bee Revolution”. The Golden Bee Revolution is a project geared to promoting standards of living (Gambia). We use mass media communication to advocate: Climate Actions, good Health and well-being, Education, and good governance.

Fortunately, for this project come in as a weekly Television show, and also we do communities outreach to sensitize people about climate change, health and well-being, good governance and Education. These helped us win Finalist at Human Awards Ghana as best humanitarian television show in Africa 2020. In 2021, received special humanitarian award from Humanitarian Awards Global. 2022, won best youth television host of the year in The Gambia and also finalist on Best television show of the year with TRA-Media Awards respectively.

Outside the project, I had six years of work experience as a nurse and have worked with other NGOs too. With these experiences, I was choosing as a party delegate to negotiate on climate change at several climate change Conference like party delegate in COP26 in Glasgow UK, COP27 in El Sharm Sheikh In Egypt, and other national and regional conferences. These amongst my experience, I am selected again to participate in the SB58 conference in Bonn, Germany as a party delegate for The Gambia.

What are currently the biggest climate problems in your home country?

The Gambia been labelled under the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) has and is continuing to experience the effect of climate change. The very recent one was in the last rainy season where the entire city of Banjul was flooded. This cost lost of homes. Reptiles and waste from drainage and sewage where having direct contact with people which was very dangerous for the health and safety of people of Banjul also most of the urban areas were affected by the flood too.

About three years ago, the northern part of The Gambia was affected by stomp that claimed lives and homes. It was marked as the greatest stomp ever recorded in the history of The Gambia. Floods and storms are becoming common and that’s actual new in the Country.

We are also losing forest which falls into the hands of real estate dealers, who are also reckless building on water canals. Not much attention is given to climate change projects. But it’s very difficult for my project and other CSOs to get enough funding to address these problems. So part of the damages is also homemade despite having that over 80% of climate changes effect especially emissions is done by developed countries.

What are your impressions of the conference? What did you experience there?

My impression about the conference is in different phases. Firstly, I would say the provision of accommodations for the young delegates at the SB58 was helpful especially for us from the developing countries with little to no financial support in our course to protecting the environment.  I am so grateful with the family I lived with in Bornheim, made me feel like I am home. They bought me train tickets because it was strange this time there were no transportation pass given by the organizers. I got free meal at home with free accommodations. They always check on me often and attended concerts were one of them performed, supporting in many ways.

The other phase is the conference itself came at the right time. The venue is easily accessible, the conference hall is having enough space and time allocation for each event was great too. The sessions I attended despite having a repetition of what is discussed previously in other years, I think more strict roles will follow this time to make sure the agreements and other things discussed to stand and not to feel like tourist and networking avengers and not adopting or negotiating on behalf of the LDCs, the indigenous peoples, the less privileged people, etc.

What do you think about Dubai as the host of the World Climate Conference in November?

For United Arab Emirates to host the next COP; COP28 is great. This region is faced with almost great heat. it is probably the hottest region on earth. Also rich with technology with strong cultural background with this advancement, their goals to address climate change, I think it is a very good idea that they will host COP28. I have attended their briefing session in Bonn Conference Center. I believe they got a lot to share with the rest of the world from easy mobility, easy access to zones like for party delegate (blue zone badge holders) will not struggle to go far to reach green zone because they are together. Also digital visa processing for the party delegate are all creative and I believe will give us great experience and easy time too. Most importantly, the COP28 incoming President said they just celebrated year of tolerance and they have no issue when it comes to hosting people with different backgrounds.

What do you think about the role of the German Green Party in climate protection?

Well, I think the German Green Party have inspired me a lot. I never though Germany is this green! To be actively involved in farming and promoting environmental health.

Thanks to their members, I found a home in Bornheim, where I was staying with the best family. Thanks to them I was introduced to other members of the Green Party. who took me to places like the controversial lignite mining area Hambacher Forst and other places. This told me clearly how engaging the Green Party is and the efforts they are doing to address climate changes. I believe The Green Party is on track in advocating and showing how to protect the climate.

What do you expect from Germany and especially from the Green Party in international climate protection?

What I expect from Germany and The Green Party is to keep up the momentum. Developed countries may not be challenged or may not feel the negative impacts of climate change but is the people living in the least developed countries are facing nightmares on something they do not work for nor are their actions really contributing much to make them face these crises (natural disasters).

I would encourage the Green Party and German government, although it is difficult and will need a lot to change from coal to gas and finally from fossile to renewable energy, do not forget to support the Least Developed Countries (LDCS). Little adjustment in their infrastructure, education and health program services can compensate parts of the damages done to them and could encourage other developed countries to join them in protecting the environment. When you lead with good initiatives, many also follow suit.

What is your conclusion about the conference?

At the end of the conference, it became clear that the positions of industrialized, developing, and emerging countries are still far apart. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to the World Climate Conference in Dubai in November because we all must stick to climate protection and keep on going.

Finally, I would like to thank the German government for hosting the preparatory conference and special thanks to the Green Party, my host family and everyone else who contributed to the conference and my stay in Germany.

Thank you Alagie for your time and thoughts. And all the best for your projects.

Read also:

Change of perspective II Reflections on our visitor from Gambia in June 2023