Leaders charge African govts to decisively address climate change

Leaders at the 17th African Economic Conference (AEC) have charged African governments to take decisive actions to address climate change.

The leaders include representatives from the African Development Bank (AfDB), United Nations Economic Community for Africa (UNECA), and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Their institutions hosted the conference.

The hosts called on participants to walk the talk by producing concrete solutions for climate-smart development on the continent.

Participants asserted that achieving net zero emissions could be accomplished if all stakeholders were robustly engaged, including providing the right environment for public-private partnerships.

Mr Renganaden Padayachy, Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, Mauritius, said the African region was the most vulnerable in the face of climate change.

“And if we limit climate change, we will change lives.”

However, Prof. Kevin Urama, Acting Chief Economist and Vice President for Economic Governance and Knowledge Management, AfDB, said Africa’s future would come from the innovation of young Africans.

“Your innovation, your knowledge, your power, use that so that we can do climate-smart development on the continent.” 

Urama said the conference produced rich lessons, including challenges, solutions, and what the private sector and government could do to leverage available skills and technology.

Furthermore, Ms Ahunna Eziakonwa, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa, called for accelerated action.

“We must be particularly mindful of the economic, societal, environmental, political, and security costs of green transitions. 

“We must fully understand the trade-offs and opportunity costs on communities and families and avoid pathways that undermine development prospects and deepen inequalities,” Eziakonwa said.

She said climate finance is urgent and urged African governments to resolve the uncertainty around it. 

“Reaching net zero emissions must also mean reaching zero poverty.”

Moreover, Dr Hanan Morsy, Deputy Executive Secretary and Chief Economist, UNECA, said that addressing climate change should not be a choice but an imperative for Africa to achieve climate-smart development.

“As such, what we have developed and discussed here regarding climate-smart development is not just an event. This is a process.”

Morsy urged African countries to heed the analyses and recommendations presented at the conference. 

The conference, held in Balaclava, Mauritius, brought together policymakers, climate experts, representatives of the private sector, academics and youth.

They were brought together to develop an action plan to guide Africa navigate the threat of climate change.

The three-day conference had a physical attendance of over 350 delegates, with thousands more participating virtually. 

The AEC 2022 had the theme “Supporting Climate-smart Development in Africa”.