COP28: Russian Coal Tycoon Woos African Leaders to UN Body for Nature-Based Solutions
Proposes a new dedicated UN body to champion Nature Based Solutions projects
Andrey Melnichenko, Russia’s wealthiest man who made a fortune in coal and fertiliser, spearheaded crucial climate action solutions at COP28 in Dubai, engaging key African Union leaders to bolster Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) across the continent. According to Business Insider Africa, the Paris Climate Agreement advocate’s presentation to figures such as Azali Assoumani, Chairman of the African Union, and William Ruto, President of Kenya, revolved around curbing greenhouse gas emissions through NBS implementation in natural landscapes.
Melnichenko proposed a dedicated UN body to champion NBS projects, underscoring the collaborative potential between Russia and African nations. He emphasized the transformative impact of NBS in achieving Paris Climate Agreement goals, asserting it could reduce emissions by 10-18 Gt of CO2 equivalent annually, a third of projected global anthropogenic emissions by 2050.
The billionaire entrepreneur, known for his Pleistocene Park in Siberia, funded by the Andrey Melnichenko Foundation, promotes innovative climate solutions. The park, collaborating with global scientific centers, explores initiatives such as reviving woolly mammoths and leveraging grazing animals like Yakut horses to enhance CO2-absorbing plant growth.
